Clergy conference by political parties over new deadlocked
A meeting called by the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference to find an agreeable solution to the contentious creation of 45 new constituencies has finished in a deadlock with the political parties sticking to their embedded positions.
The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie said Joy News shortly after the meeting that the NPP has taken no hard-line position on the matter except to “function in the overall attention of the country.”
He described that interest to mean that the time is not suitable for the making of 45 new constituencies- the similar position the party took before it arrived in Tuesday’s meeting.
“It is not an inflexible position,” he said, adding our “position has been well thought done.”
The NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia pronounced the meeting as a good chance for the clergy to hear the sides of the political parties on the substance, but stopped short of saying whether the decision party, which has been intense in its support of the new elector, is ready to back down.
The spiritual leaders have respected the various positions better, he said.
Convener of the meeting, Most Respected Joseph Osei-Bonsu, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference said Joy News said they are untroubled about the seeming lack of consensus after the first meeting.
He said they have decided another meeting with the parties as well as the Electoral Commissioner next to find a lasting solution to the deadlock.
He will not prevent what the discussion will be when they meet, except to continue optimistic that consensus will be touched.
The Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Governance, Dr Emmanuel Akwetey called the meeting as a good practice and a good start.”
He said earlier efforts to get all the political parties to meet even under ROPAL were a bit challenging.
He specified that dialogue does not resolve differences after just a first meeting, adding with “trust and perseverance” a useful contract will be reached.
