Reverend Dr
Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, a former General Secretary of the Christian Council of
Ghana, has suggested to the government to postpone the scheduled referendum to
allow for broader consultation.
“There is the need for the government to
engage various stakeholders and have a broader discussion on the referendum
before appealing to the citizenry to vote a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ since the current
position of the various political parties on the referendum is gradually dividing
the country and a broader consultation should be encouraged,” he explained.
Rev. Dr Opuni-Frimpong noted that “the citizenry should be educated, sensitised to create awareness on the referendum
than allowing politicians to confuse us, but I believe if the government
postpones the referendum and engages more, we will have a better appreciation
of their position.”
The National House of Chiefs is on fire as the
traditional rulers tear each other apart over their position on the upcoming
referendum that could introduce multi-party sponsorship of candidates at the
local level provided the electorate votes ‘Yes’ on December 17, 2019.
A statement signed and issued by Togbe Afede XIV
and Nana Kweku Ewusi VII, President and Vice-President of the National House of
Chiefs respectively, opposing the December referendum, has drawn fury, denial
and harsh remarks among the top traditional rulers.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, Paramount Chief of Sefwi
Anhwiaso Traditional Area and President of the Western Regional House of
Chiefs, who doubles as Chairman of the Governance Committee of the National
House of Chiefs, described the statement as bogus, arbitrary and smacked of ‘drunkenness and
abuse of power’ by Togbe Afede and Nana Kweku Ewusi.
The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin and
other traditional authorities from the Eastern Region have also distanced
themselves from the statement made by the President of the House of Chiefs and
his Vice.
But Togbe Afede who does not appear ready to
countenance dissent on the matter has described the reaction of his colleagues
as consistent with ‘dishonesty’. -peacefmonline.com
