The Minority in Parliament has dared the Majority Leader and Minister for parliamentary Affairs to name the two National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs) he claims defied their boycott for the registration of the Ghana Card.
Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu in an interview with Starr News said the two NDC MPs secretly registered for the Ghana card contrary to the collective stance of the minority on the issue. The two, he claimed even begged the National Identification Authority’s (NIA) officials not to disclose their identities.
“Even when they are making that passionate appeal, some of them have gone ahead and registered. Last Friday when I went there to do my own, there were two of them with me.
“I won’t mention their names because they themselves had indicated to the officers that they shouldn’t unveil their identities which explains why they didn’t do it at where the people were doing it near the chamber.
“They chose to come to the restaurant to do it. Why did they opt to come to the restaurant? They wanted to have some secrecy. I won’t mention their names now until push comes to shove,” he claimed.
But in a swift response, the Minority through the MP for Adaklu described the claim by the Majority Leader as baloney, challenging him to be bold and name the two ‘rebellious’ MPs.
“I am daring the government and its propaganda wings to publish the names of the two MPs. Even if it is me,” he called out in an interview with Starr News’ Parliamentary correspondent Ibrahim Alhassan.
“There shouldn’t be any hiding place,” he continued “because as a party we have taken a position on this and if any member of the NDC went contrary to our directives those people must be identified…so I am urging them to publish their names. Don’t hide them.”
Reacting to concerns over right to privacy the Adalku lawmaker quizzed: “Why shouldn’t they? If you are a member of the NDC, your party has taken a decision and it is high time they know that parties do have laws.”
Pictures of some NDC MPs were heavily circulated last month as having registered for the Ghana card despite the party’s announced boycott.
The said MPs had since denied knowledge of the cards, threatening to sue the NIA if it does not clear the air.
The threat led to the NIA coming out with a statement to deny ever registering some members of the Minority in Parliament for the Ghana Card.
“The purported Personal Identification Numbers on the cards fall completely outside the unique numbering system and scope of NIA. The pictures on the cards also don’t conform to NIA picture requirements,” the Authority said in a statement,” the NIA said in a statement.
The Minority is distancing itself from the exercise until voter’s ID cards are accepted as one of the requirements for the national card
Source:Starrfmonline.com