Former Executive Director of policy think tank, Danquah Institute, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has described Ghana’s parliament as a “big joke,” and the MPs as a bunch of “disgraceful poodles.”
His outburst follows what he believes is the failure of the law chamber to stop the Executive from usurping its powers, as far as an intended probe into Ghana’s World Cup fiasco is concerned.
The Sports minister recently announced a three-man committee headed by Justice Senyo Dzamefe, to investigate the circumstances under which Ghana was booted out of the World Cup at the group stage, as well as look into the controversies of player indiscipline, delayed bonuses and match-fixing allegations that clothed Ghana’s participation in the Mundial.
But even before the committee begins its work, Sports Minister, Mahama Ayariga, appeared before Parliament on Monday to inform the House about the President’s decision to elevate the committee to a Commission, a decision the DI Founder sees as an attempt to usurp the powers of parliament for cover-up purposes.
He wrote on his Facebook: “Ghana’s Parliament is a joke. A big joke! Time to ?#?OccupyParliament is now!”
“The most disappointing and disgraceful bunch of voluntary poodles any Executive can be proud of!” he added.
“An application by the Minority to move a motion to set up a bipartisan parliamentary enquiry is made. The executive, to kill it, quickly sets up its own enquiry. Has a second thought. Dissolves it and turns it into a presidential commission to give it greater constitutional oomph. The Majority, led by the Leader of the House, says once the President has decided to do a similar thing, the original legislative power to do same, even a priori, is mute, inferior, superfluous and redundant. Accordingly, MPs vote to deny themselves their constitutional mandate to exercise their own inherent power in disgraceful subjugation to the Presidency! Montesquieu would be shredding in his grave! Time to #OccupyParliament,” Asare Otchere-Darko fumed.
