Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Nii Ayikoi Otoo, has sharply criticized the strategy employed by the opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He asserts that the NDC’s tendency to publicly announce their plans undermines their political efforts and offers their rivals, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the opportunity to counteract their initiatives. Otoo contends that the NDC’s lack of strategic discretion severely limits their effectiveness within the political arena. By revealing their intentions before execution, they inadvertently provide their opponents with the necessary information to thwart their moves, ultimately compromising their objectives.
In light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to halt a ruling that declared four parliamentary seats vacant, Otoo specifically pointed to the NDC’s public discussions regarding their legislative intentions. He noted that the opposition party openly stated their plans to repeal specific laws even before attempting to implement the Speaker’s ruling on the matter. Instead of adopting a more discreet approach, they resorted to utilizing media platforms to air their strategies. This public discourse served only to alert the NPP, which could then mobilize its resources in response to the potential changes instigated by the NDC.
Otoo remarked that the NDC effectively “shot themselves in the foot” by engaging in excessive talk that put the NPP on high alert. The ensuing awareness led the NPP to take pre-emptive measures, including legal action. By making their intentions known, the NDC’s leadership inadvertently prompted the Majority to act decisively and quickly, which included filing an ex-parte application in the Supreme Court. Otoo urged the NDC to adopt a more clandestine approach to their political maneuverings, emphasizing that keeping strategies under wraps would negate the potential advantages gained by their opponents.
One of the critical issues raised by Otoo involves the expedience with which the Supreme Court handled the NDC case compared to other matters. He clarified that the nature of the application—being ex-parte—typically necessitates swift action due to its urgency. Otoo dismissed any comparisons to other cases that may have experienced delays, stressing that the promptness was warranted given the circumstances surrounding the NDC’s declarations. The NDC’s advance disclosures of their legislative plans catalyzed the need for immediate judicial intervention to prevent any alterations to the current parliamentary structure.
Furthermore, Otoo highlighted specific endeavors planned by the NDC should they gain control of Parliament, which included reconstituting parliamentary committees, appointing a new Deputy Speaker, and amending the communication tax. These announcements raised red flags within the NPP, compelling them to seek an ex-parte order from the Supreme Court to preclude the NDC from implementing these changes. Otoo pointed out the historical context of the NDC calling on the NPP’s presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to consider amendments to the E-levy, pointing out that these changes would necessitate revisiting the Appropriation Law, hence Bawumia’s request for the NDC to defer any alterations until he assumed office.
In conclusion, Nii Ayikoi Otoo reiterated that the NDC’s tendency to prematurely disclose their strategic intentions armed the NPP with critical information to prepare for countermeasures. This disclosure ultimately facilitated the Supreme Court’s intervention to suspend the Speaker’s ruling. Otoo’s remarks served as a call to action for the NDC to adopt a more strategic approach in the future, emphasizing the importance of confidentiality in political dealings to ensure fewer disadvantages in the ever-complex political landscape. The commentary provided during an interview with Accra-based Citi FM encapsulates a broader concern regarding political strategy and the consequences of public discourse on legislative intentions.
