Hot SourceThe New Voter Forum (NVF) has waded into the growing controversy surrounding New Juaben South MP, Michael Okyere Baafi, demanding his immediate resignation from Parliament for failing to honour a pledge he made in the full glare of the public.
Mr Okyere Baafi, a deputy minister and lawmaker on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), publicly declared before the recent Akwatia by-election that he would resign his seat if his party lost the contest. The NPP’s candidate, Solomon Asomadu, went on to lose the poll — yet the MP has remained in office.
In a strongly worded statement dated 4 September, NVF said the MP’s apology over the matter was not enough and accused him of undermining political accountability.
“Despite NPP’s defeat, Hon. M.O Baafi has remained in office against his own words. We consider his apology not enough to temper justice with mercy on such a profound public declaration,” the Forum said.
The group added: “His continuous stay in office after such public pledge is deeply worrying and unacceptable because it undermines political accountability and credibility. It further betrays the oath he took as a Member of Parliament.”
The NVF argued that accountability is central to good governance and warned that politicians cannot continue to make “reckless promises” without being held to their word. “We cannot continue to pardon politicians for making reckless political statements without holding their feet to the fire of accountability,” the statement read.
As part of its demands, the NVF is calling on the MP to step down “honourably” in order to set a precedent for political credibility. The group has also petitioned Parliament’s leadership to take action.
“We further call on the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business in Parliament to petition the Speaker of Parliament to declare Hon. Okyere Baafi’s seat vacant,” the statement said.
The release was copied to the Speaker of Parliament, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the NPP’s General Secretary.
The ball is now firmly in the court of Parliament and the Presidency, as civil society pressure builds on Okyere Baafi to walk away from his seat or risk being branded the latest politician to gamble with the trust of the Ghanaian people.
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