Parliament cannot shut its doors on us – PPP

The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has expressed its disconsternation over what it terms “discriminatory conduct” by Parliament the choice of institutions invited to the State of the Nation Address delivered by President John Dramani Mahama in Parliament yesterday.

It said the decision by the Parliament House of Ghana not to invite the leadership of the PPP to the State of the Nation Address is very disappointing and discriminatory because “The House which is constitutionally mandated to make laws for this country should not be the one undermining the laws on discrimination”.

A statement issued in Accra by the Party and signed by its National Secretary, Kofi Asamoah-Siaw said no official invitation was sent to the PPP under the pretext that the party had no representation in parliament.

“This introduction of unconstitutional elements by governmental, state or public institutions to discriminate some political parties must cease.

“What kind of a nation are we trying to build if state institutions who must lead the course of inclusiveness are the ones introducing discrimination in the discharge of their duties?

It said the role of the PPP in sustaining the multi-party democratic process in Ghana cannot be exaggerated, urging Ghanaians not to allow “our multi-party democracy to be characterized by unfriendliness, political exclusion and favouritism” because “Ghana is not a two party-state”.

“The Parliament House of Ghana should at all times ensure a level playing field for all political parties in the democratic process and not to give priority to only political parties with representation in Parliament.

“It is the people of Ghana who decide which parties go to parliament and the fact that a political party duly registered is not in parliament does not take away its rights and privileges.

“Parliament needs to be informed that politics of Ghana takes place in a framework of a presidential and representative political system, whereby the President of Ghana is both head of state and head of government and whoever is elected president do not need parliamentary seats to become president, So where from this fetish proclivity to this slogan of “parties with representation in parliament?

The statement warned that “Any attempt to prevent the forward march and the rising star of the PPP by these subtle political machinations will be resisted by all Progressive forces in Ghana”.