‘Loyal opposition’

The British de­scribe the gathering opposite Govern­ment Benches in the chamber in Parliament as the “LOYAL OPPOSITION”. Every Opposition wants to be in power. The Loyal means doing nothing that may dislocate business of the House, generally. But it also has a duet: support constructively; and it does not mean “see no evil; hear no evil; and speak no evil.” But in context of winning back electoral favour, seriously rebrand and stu­diously articulate your ideology for refurbished alter policies, not wait for Manifesto. Or, add blaring de­finitively criticisms, both punching holes playing to the political galler­ies like Prof. Busia overwhelmed the CPP in Parliament for Krobo Edusei’s: “Kofi ie yensuom”. In our politics however, all of these requirements are anathema. The last honourable tool is decently ab­stain in the division or head count.

Recent claims which appear to encourage the antics going on, confirm [i]poor to misunderstood; [ii] have not learnt yet—perhaps not prepared to learn; and (b) may or not have read the ground rule of its party’s beliefs or both comprehend the history of origins. The long and short is that this country was a British colony and the reality is that the British taught and left this country with that system for governance, 1957. But the history of Opposition since has been a somewhat liability to a multi-democracy which we have pretended; and I am mindful that the CPP were never in Opposi­tion in the fullness of itself after overthrown Feb. 24 1966 by then Col E.K. Kotoka. The CPP re-ap­peared in splinters with different names during Rawlings’ first term 1992—1996.

All the major political parties—NPP and NDC– which have ruled to recently, are guilty of the same

conduct in degrees,— disregard of the norms stated previously from parliaments to another. What is more bothering now, is the increasing walks-out, boy­cotts, finding faults about what­ever Government of the day did to justify. Even during the four military reigns in between res­torations of constitutional rule. The apparent relays through the years, alienated the country; and cued-in UNIGOV, rejected by a referendum. The gap between Parliament and the country started widening towards ultimate period before Parliament closed for the eighth. Unfortunately, the ninth is such a confusion today—the constant main attitude of the old unchanged conduct of “four legs bad”, trending to infect a per­manent norm today. The conse­quence prompts ‘is there or not suspicion of a loitering infection of “divine right of Kingship”.

The former President Nana Akufo-Addo had twice lost the NPP’s Presidential “Ticket” pri­maries before he won and suffered defeat 2012. The charge against him then alleged arrogance and accused of posturing “divine right of Kingship”, [The origins of the ‘right’ was a claim by British King Charles I, 1600-1649,exe­cuted. (That ’’right’’ meant—[i]the King was ordained by God; [ii] could not be held accountable by any. That self-proclamation was unacceptable to the Brits, coming nearly four centuries after Runny­mede- King John Vs the Barons, Magna Carta, June 15, 1215. Some in the former governing- NPP continue to predicate and con­clude the Party’s annihilation, Dec. 7, 2024, to their Leader Nana Akufo-Addo for alleged semblance of as if traits during his eight-year- tenure as President)

. The common knowledge of grave worry leads back to what it was from the beginning after inde­pendence. It was vastly different. There were debates and the Op­position stood up to Governments in the chamber—in-depth, solid presentations which enlightened thoughts kept the country close to its Parliament—very interest­ed, everyone was enthused about Parliament. That introspection, being the reality, prompts what the Elders, both sides, taught as Oppo­sition generations following. Here is what happened: the first military Junta, the National Liberation Council [NLC], froze all politics. From behind the scenes Prof. Bu­sia quietly organised his Progress Party [PP] which won 1969 under a Decree which barred the CPP contesting. President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s heir apparent, K.A.Gbedemah, before he exiled, founded the National Alliance of Liberals [NAL] and formed the main Opposition which put the PP as much as the country had known previously about what was wanted of a parliamentary Opposition in the cut and thrust on the floor of the House—there were the silhou­ettes of a resurrection.

Another ouster which muzzled throughout all until two [third and fourth military interventions more coups ushered this Fourth Repub­lic. 1992. Certainly, a cross section of persons had lost appetite for politics and going to parliament. I suppose that would be tangible for sending the newly-elected to seminar sponsored by the US ICA, Jimmy Carter’s substitute title for USAID. Terms like “majority” [for Government-British] and “mi­nority” [Opposition British] could be rooted there and the notion to school MPs, diluted into training by political parties’ themselves, intend. I hope each recognises the distinction between political parties and parliamentary training. The troubles today vindicate national budget allocation, the national Kitty’s fragility.

With hindsight, I can extol the shrewdness of men and paucity of women who crafted the consti­tution for the Third Republic for stipulating political parties to present audited accounts to the Electoral Commission [EC] post-elections in particular. The Parties did not comply. I think taxes, fines etc could have been to part-support that kind of parlia­mentary endeavour, quite innova­tive; but 1992 withdrew. We can dust rusty cabinets as we scrounge for resources. Indirectly, this could be a weapon for the parties to control over-zealots MPs [the Opposition especially], who might stray and innocently alienate public which would be needed, if they want power next near time. Lan­guishing in opposition is like being on death row, it is said. “Loyal” is a euphemism. But it has inveighed impera­tives in the context—egg-on and a caveat like a double-edged knife—oppose convincingly, and don’t derail, in the spirit of what the late K.B. Asante described as “the brotherhood of duty.” [Daily Graphic 02-06-2000 pg 07 “DO WE Have Great and Famous Men”?].

.Quoting partially from that piece to make a strong point or pro­test: “I must confess, sometimes I wonder whether something is wrong with us. We see the bird flu travelling across the world and we dot the matter so that we can keep away the imported chicken. which are destroying our local industry. One would have thought that was a good opportunity to strengthen the local industry.” If the meaning of the lapse is unclear yet, I shall with respect but also reluctantly point to our parliament recently from vetting of appoin­tee-designates to the floor of the chamber—“silly” “murderer’s…” , “stingy” and “dance” with ap­parent dogged resistance to stand down remark(s), faulted for “ter­minological in-exactitude”[Brit­ain’s war-time Leader Sir Winston Churchill]. Conjecturing forward, it would just like a lady ‘designate’ appointee asked to demonstrate her most favourite chamber-wok style. That won’t be off-limit, if the trend is not clamped, banned ad infinitum.

I regret to observe that reactions to criticism inside and outside, responses from Parliament are disliked. Might it also be that there is struggling inside to keep com­posed? And the emerging shard rather prods outburst. I think in the current piling internecine in our Loyal Opposition, people could be jostling for positions. The clatter, the contentious and the clumsy are expected; but the most significant work inclined towards public embrace in the early months after unsuccessful elections usually becomes illusory to belated beyond, unless there is a sudden appearance of a com­manding “Father Figure.” There may not be any for the moment. The unrewarding prize is “a day in politics is a long time indeed”. Nevertheless, I shall perhaps dare put the reason which is the excess politicisation of everything that was mattering in governance; and it would be tautology to wink.

Secondly in the past, the lossed over directly and indirectly, is RESPECT which is despicable today. It’s mutual between the country and Representatives at the Legislature. The worry is it reflects both ways. However, the national nostalgia are: [i] it was not like this; and that reminds us of a late Speaker Peter Ala Adjetey. They called him “SCHOOL MASTER” because his “Order, order” was obeyed in the House—Gov­ernment and Opposition. That decorum infected the country. And beyond backwards to Five women: (a) Mrs F. Crabbe and Mrs Papafio [Government Girls’ School, now Philip Quaicoe], and “OC” (Compton), Mother ‘’S’’ and my grand Auntie, Sister Benigna Consolatrix (the first African Nun, south of the Sahara [Wesley Girls’ High School, Holy Child Second­ary School and OLA/St Mary’s Convent—Cape Coast and Elmi­na] and Mrs Otoo [St Theresa’s—North Kaneshie Accra]. (b) The males were Rev Frs Knight and Howard Adisade], Rev Frs Kelly and Glynn [St. Augustine’s], A.K. Konuah [Accra Academy] and F.L.Bartels [Mfantsipim] –great disciplinarians.

[ii] It is a tribute that some discipline is going to be empha­sised as renaissance attaching to a para-military training for the National Service personnel. My hopes: the politicians and those with future ambitions will not gang up to throw it out like was done at the Constituent Assembly 1979. The Presidential fiat does not say it is going to be compul­sory, unlike the 1979 moot. To what extent for would affect chaps with intent to contest elective positions, is an undisputed. Both Parliament and country should be beneficiaries abundantly as any survey cross-country shall confirm. Put it humorously, DECORUM is as acute in KALABULE time or is in dire want constantly just as galamsey can’t be let a fugitive offender any longer than the Loyal Opposition would possess in every Parliament.

By Prof Nana Essilfie-Conduah.

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