IMANI: Cancellation of referendum is cowardice

Franklin Cudjoe, the President of IMANI Africa, has waded into the controversies surrounding the upcoming referendum on December 17, 2019, and stated that annulling the referendum will be a cowardice act on the part of the decision-makers.

He said it seemed to be a re-affirmation of ‘yes’ vote stance on the referendum because anyone contemplating cancelling the referendum is not bold.

However, Mr Cudjoe used the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) mantra in a questionable form, “isn’t the battle the Lord’s anymore?” which purported encouragement to the Nana Akufo-Addo-led administration to stand firm and proceed with the electoral processes.

His previous comments on the issue on his Facebook page noted that ‘yes’ vote would also help break the National Democratic Congress (NDC)-NPP duopoly and contribute to national development and cohesion, rather thoughtful ‘no’ campaigners aren’t having the conversation, instead, they just believe, emotionally, that it is a bad idea which is sad.

According to Mr Cudjoe, “the ‘yes’ vote will encourage the growth of smaller political parties in the country, hence it is sad people are against it, organisations and individuals campaigning for a ‘no’ vote in the December 17, referendum to come together and advocate change in the characteristics of politics they find offensive.

“Anyone contemplating cancelling the referendum is not bold, isn’t the battle the Lord’s anymore? God is still in the miracle biz!” he wrote on his Facebook page.

The Electoral Commission, last month, announced a nationwide referendum to be conducted on December 17, 2019, to enable the citizenry decide if an entrenched clause in the 1992 Constitution Article 55(3) needs to be amended to permit political parties to participate in local government elections.

A voter turnout of at least 40 per cent and 75 per cent ‘yes votes’ is required to affirm the government’s desire to amend the Article 55(3) in the 1992 Constitution and pressure has mounted on the government, especially by the opposition to rescind its decision on the impending referendum polls.

Members of the NDC at a recently held press conference, kicked against the introduction of partisanship into local governance system, stating that although it supported the idea of electing Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), the December 17 referendum had nothing to do with the election of MMDCEs.-ghanaweb.com