Referendum: Akufo-Addo won’t stop seeking consensus – NPP

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said President Akufo-Addo will not stop at seeking consensus for the recently botched December 17, 2019 referendum which was to have asked Ghanaians whether or not they wanted political parties to sponsor candidates in local government elections.

Addressing the nation on Sunday, December 1, 2019, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the attainment of a broad consensus, for him, on a matter as important as the amendment of an entrenched provision of the Constitution is critical.

“I do not believe that such an amendment should be driven as a party matter. There has to be a clear national consensus and agreement amongst the populace that a particular entrenched provision no longer serves the interest of the people, and, thus, has to be removed,” he said.

He continued: “In this case, it had been long apparent that political parties were, in fact, actively involved in district assembly elections, despite their apparently non-partisan nature. The time had come to strip the process of its hypocrisy, and accept and work with the reality of party involvement.”

At a press conference on Monday, December 2, 2019, the NPP said the President had no choice than to cancel the process, but added that: “We are, however, encouraged by the assurance last night that the President and the government are not giving up on this important search for a consensus for as long as the New Patriotic Party remains in office.”