Joe Ghartey's Nomination: NDC proved it is more democratic - Ablakwa

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, has told XYZ News that seconding the nomination of Joe Ghartey as second Deputy Speaker goes to prove that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a more matured political party that believes in democracy.

Hon. Okudzeto who was part of the new MPs who were sworn into office on December 6, has been against the choice of an NPP candidate for the Second Deputy Speaker position after the opposition party decided to boycott the president’s inauguration.

The NDC was considering the PNC’s Alhassan Azon for that position. This was in retaliation to the NPP's position.

The NPP disagrees with the declaration of President John Dramani Mahama as the winner of the December 7 and 8 presidential polls, accusing the EC of conniving with the NDC to rig the election.

The party is currently at the Supreme Court challenging the results declared by the Electoral Commission.

Even though parliament eventually elected Hon. Joe Ghartey, NPP MP for Essikado-Ketan as the Second Deputy Speaker, the NPP boycotted the president’s inauguration ceremony on Monday morning.

But in an interview with XYZ News, Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa said the decision to support the NPP's nominee was taken for the good of the nation.

“We decided that we should look at the bigger picture; what Ghanaians want and the leadership of our party decided that all of us should just second the motion and allow Mr. Joe Ghartey to go through,” he said.

According to him, the stance taken by the NDC has elevated its democratic credentials among floating voters.

“I am happy that all of this has put critics of the NDC to shame and has shown the NDC as a more mature, more democratic, a party for the future and the party for all well-meaning Ghanaians,” he said.