In a strongly-worded opinion piece, former MP Ras Mubarak has criticized the recent motion filed by Haruna Iddrisu, former Minority Leader, aimed at removing four MPs who are contesting as independent candidates in the upcoming December 2024 parliamentary elections. Mubarak argues that the motion is a misguided distraction and a waste of valuable time, particularly when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) should be focusing on more pressing issues ahead of a critical election.
Mubarak emphasized that with just weeks to go before the December 7 election, common sense dictates that the NDC and its MPs should be concentrating their efforts on ensuring a credible and fair election rather than pursuing the removal of MPs who have decided to go independent. “We are going into a very difficult election, where the referee (EC) is clearly biased against us. The sooner we kept our eyes on the most important things, the better for us,” Mubarak stressed.
The former MP questioned the electoral value of such a motion, noting that even if the four MPs were removed, it would not have a significant impact on the election outcome. He highlighted that there would be no by-election to fill the vacant seats before December, rendering the effort politically futile. Instead of wasting time on internal party squabbles, Mubarak called for a focus on the real threat—the posture of the Electoral Commission (EC) and its chairperson, whom he described as biased against the NDC.
“The first act by the Minority is not a motion to impeach the President for his colossal failure to tackle the illegal mining crisis, nor a bill to prosecute parents like Bishop Salifu Amoako, whose minor children commit high crimes,” Mubarak lamented, urging the party to prioritize the nation’s pressing issues. He pointed out that while MPs discussed the motion, they ignored more critical concerns like the rising road accident fatalities, the destruction of water bodies, and the plastic pollution crisis—issues that directly affect the daily lives of Ghanaians.
Mubarak’s critique also extended to the lack of urgency in holding the government accountable for its failures. He argued that if the NDC were serious about defending the constitution and addressing national concerns, they should be focused on impeaching President Akufo-Addo for his inability to manage critical issues such as illegal mining and the country’s struggling economy.
With only three months left in this parliamentary term, Mubarak warned that time is running out to tackle the real issues that could sway the electorate. “Parliament is clothed with all the powers to put the Electoral Commissioner in check. And I hope we make that a priority rather than this injury-time gymnastics that are a waste of everyone’s time,” he said, stressing that the NDC needs to shift its attention to winning the election.
In a broader sense, Mubarak’s article serves as a call for the NDC to realign its strategies and focus on what truly matters as the country heads into a tough election. By addressing the bias within the Electoral Commission and championing the issues that concern everyday Ghanaians, the NDC can better position itself to challenge the ruling government and win the December elections.
