Nana Akomea: Time for unity talks to be demonstrated

Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea, has said ‘Unity government’ governance could be made possible in Ghana’s democracy after the final verdict of the election petition if only the incumbent president, John Dramani Mahama is willing.

According to him, former President John Agyekum Kufour made such an approach when he named some individuals in the opposition to join his government during his tenure in office.

He noted that there will be a need for a committee to be set to deliberate the proposal (Unity Government) before implemented, so as not to create chaos.

The NPP bigwig opined that the call for ‘Unity government’ talks has been long overdue and believes it’s time for such talks to be demonstrated even “if not after the verdict of the election petition”, but years ahead.

Nana Akomea was speaking to the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Reverend Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle's call for Ghana to adopt a unity governance system for the next three years in order to bring down the political tension in the country.

According to the renowned Archbishop, whoever the August 29 judgement will favour should draw members from the opposite party to form a government that will steer the affairs of the nation until the 2016 General Election.

Speaking on Adom FM, Nana Akomea lauded Most Reverend Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle for his suggestion, but stated that this could be possible if the idea to bring on board expertise from the opposition parties to help steer the affairs of the nation sits with the president.

“We have been talking about this inclusive government for quite a while. In the meantime, since we don’t have any committee to monitor other countries practicing this to recommend to Ghanaians, even if this will be implemented here in Ghana, it will depend on the president (Mahama).

“…Ex-President Kufour started this when he came into power in 2001. He named some NDC members into his cabinet as well as other party members. He (Ex Prez Kufour) started from somewhere, so if we had continued, we wouldn’t be calling for this unity government again.

“…If after the court verdict and President Mahama is to continue with his governance and wants to include some members from the opposition side, that will be fine,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nana Akomea has given the assurance that his party’s flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is all for calling on other members from the opposing side to help in the administration of the country should the court declare him as the winner of the election petition.