General News of Saturday, 24 August 2013

Source: joyonline

Power-sharing not panacea for justice – Sammy Awuku

Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP),Samuel Awuku has expressed shock at the sudden call for power-sharing a week before the Supreme Court delivers judgment on the Presidential Election Petition.

The court will on August 29, give its final ruling on the petition challenging the legitimacy of President John Mahama.

The petition was filed by flabearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo , his running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and party chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey.

Chairman of the government National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr.Kwabena Adjei on Thursday urged politicians to adopt an all inclusive government and eschew the winner takes all politics.

He was speaking at the 21st anniversary celebration of the New Patriotic Party in Accra.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of the Catholic Church, Charles Palmer-Buckle is proposing a unity government between the two parties in court for national cohesion.

But Sammy Awuku on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Friday, vehemently disagreed with the crusaders of power-sharing.

He said "if we really want peace in Ghana we should all not hesitate to call for justice, no matter whose ox is gored".

The NPP youth activist maintained that sharing power between NDC and NPP will not be the panacea for justice, if one party feels aggrieved.

Sammy Awuku added that peace and justice are two sides of the same coin and thus the people calling for power-sharing should not hesitate to call for justice.

In support, a member of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), James Kwabena Bomfe popularly known as Kabila stated that "power-sharing is alien to our constitution".

He said such calls are premature and are rather increasing the tension in the country ahead of the historical court ruling.

The CPP man noted that "we are not in a war torn country" to negotiate for power-sharing even before the court gives its ruling.

Kabila said if there is justice and all the parties are satisfied, there will be no need for power- sharing.