Accord Presidency Maximum Respect — NPP Constituency Chairman

A former Agona West Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Adofo Dwamena, has advised Ghanaians to accord the President and other officials in leadership positions maximum respect so as to protect the image and integrity of the highest office of the land.

According to him, as a people, we should not allow partisan political interests to influence us to always hurl insults at the President to vilify him.

He said irrespective of the political party in power, Ghanaians should ensure the sanctity of the Office of the President.

He stated that the lack of respect for the President and other officials in leadership positions had made it very difficult for some individuals with wealth of experience to offer themselves to be voted for to help contribute to the development of the country.

He mentioned that Ghana might not achieve the progress it was yearning for due to the fact that some public-spirited individuals who could help drive the development agenda of the country were not willing to air their opinions for fear of attacks and vilification.

Mr Dwamena, who spoke in an interview at Agona Swedru, noted that though democracy had made room for free speech, the citizenry should not abuse it to the extent of insulting and castigating people in authority just because their party was not in power.

Consequences
He explained that the situation was affecting the progress of the nation since experienced professionals and technocrats who could help in the development of the country were not willing to do so just to escape from insults from party supporters.

He indicated that due to the disrespect for people in authority, the country might be left in the hands of inexperienced people who may not be able to work effectively to develop it.

Parties support
Mr Dwamena told the Daily Graphic that the moment elections were over, all opposition parties must rally behind the ruling party to deliver its policies and programmes towards the development of the country.

He stressed that all parties must work to ensure the success of the ruling party so that the electorate would have confidence in them to also give them the chance to steer the affairs of the state.

He explained further that the country would not achieve the desired progress and development if opposition parties continued to undermine and unnecessarily criticise the ruling party in order to make the party unpopular to pave the way for the opposition party to come to power.

Using the American system as an example, Mr Dwamena noted that all Americans rallied behind the party in power whether Republican or Democrats, which has contributed immensely towards the advancement of the country.

He,therefore, called on all political parties to away with trivialities and pettiness and work towards the success of the ruling party, which, he said, should accept criticisms in good faith to help develop the country.

Call for all inclusiveness
He said there should be an all inclusiveness in the governance of the country so that people would be brought on board irrespective of their political persuasions to contribute to the development of the country.
He pointed out that all experienced brains and individuals from opposition parties should be given opportunities to serve in government so that with a sense of togetherness, everyone would contribute his or her quota towards the progress of the country.

Advice to party supporters
He advised political party supporters against preventing the President from appointing professionals from opposition parties to serve in government, stressing that it had resulted in the putting of square pegs into round holes.

“Once elections are over, party supporters must allow the President to put together a team of experienced hands who would work to change the fortunes of the country” he added.