Assembly Elections Should Be Partisan; We Are Being Hypocritical And Deceptive - Political Scientist

Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr. Evans Aggrey Darko says the just ended Assembly elections which recorded low turnout amidst of violence in the country cannot shy away from by partisan approach.

According to him, the Assembly elections will generate more interest if political parties are allowed openly and actively to get involved in the elections.

Speaking on Okay Fm’s "Ade Akye Abia" Morning Show, Dr. Aggrey Darko was of the view that it is hypocritical and deceptive to say the Assembly elections are non-partisan because the 1992 constitution permits that 30 percent of the Assembly representation including DCE’s should be appointed by the President.

He explained that the party in power wants to have control throughout every aspect of development as a government and so in appointing the 30 percent representation in the Assembly, government usually appoints its sympathizers.

“….and so the government in power sometimes is afraid that the Assembly will be completely independent which may affect the progress of the government; that’s why they want to have a good hold…if the party in power wants to have a good hold and because of that we incorporate into the law that 30% of the Assembly are from the President including DCE’s, then I think we are being hypocritical and it is about time we look at it again,” he advised.

He added that; “I will be happy if the Assembly elections be partisan because it will generate more interest in the elections…we should do it partisan so that other parties can join the race because whether we like it or not political parties always sponsor their people in the Assembly elections.”

“This means we are only deceiving ourselves that the Assembly elections are non-partisan but I can say on authority that most of the candidates are sponsored,” he professed.