Referendum: I’m now for a ‘No Vote’ – NDC’s Ras Mubarak retreats to avoid sanction

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An opposition lawmaker in Ghana Ras Mubarak has beaten a retreat from his endorsement of a Yes vote in the forthcoming 17 December 2019 referendum over whether or not local elections should be made partisan.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP had openly campaigned against his party’s position, prompting a threat from his leader in Parliament Haruna Iddrisu that rank breakers would be sanctioned by the Caucus.

Mr. Mubarak has since issued a statement to backtrack.

“Upon a sober reflection and advice from very distinguished senior party members, especially the Parliamentary leadership, I have come to the conclusion that It is improper to deviate from my party’s official position for a NO vote in the upcoming referendum on article 55(3) of constitution.

“I recognize that the my personal position must be subsumed under the broader interest of the party.

“I have therefore decided to uphold the party’s position for a NO vote on the matter,” Mubarak stated in a statement copied to DailyMailGH.

Petition

Meanwhile, the NDC’s Bono Regional Youth Organiser, Efo Worlanyo Tsekpo has petitioned the Functional Executive Committee of the party to sanction Mr Mubarak for openly breaking ranks with its stance so as to engender discipline.

Read the full petition below:

The Functional Executive Committee
National Democratic Congress
Adabraka – Accra

Thro: The General Secretary
Hon Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
NDC Headquarters – Accra

Dear Sir,

IN THE MATTER OF ANTI-PARTY CONDUCT BY MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR KUNBUNGU CONSTITUENCY, HON RAS MUBARAK

I write to bring to your attention the conduct of the Member of Parliament for Kunbungu Constituency, Hon Ras Mubarak in respect of the party’s stance on the 17 December 2019 referendum. The said MP has called out the Party as playing the ostrich and being hypocritical in kicking against attempts to introduce partisan politics into the local government system.

Hon Ras Mubarak has not hidden his disdain for the decision taken on the referendum by the Party’s second highest decision-making body, National Executive Committee, which was subsequently communicated to members and Ghanaians at large through a press conference addressed by National Chairman, Hon Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo. He has been hooping from media house to media house, and in some instances, bantering officers of the party. To be exact, he has broken ranks with the party and has instead joined the New Patriotic Party in advocating for YES votes in the impending referendum.

It is important to point out that the NDC’s Constitution under article 45(c) enjoins every member to “faithfully implement the lawful decisions of the Party”. It cannot be gainsaid that Hon Ras Mubarak’s conduct is in breach of the Party’s Constitution and as such must be subjected to Party discipline.

For the avoidance of doubt, article 46(8) of the Party’s Constitution provides, inter alia, that “a party member may be subjected or may be made subject to Party discipline for any of the following:

(b) anti-party conduct or activities likely to EMBARRASS the Party or bring the Party into hatred, RIDICULE or contempt (emphasis is mine)

(c) insubordination or negligence in the execution of lawful decisions or directives of the Party by members or officers or the Party”.

It is my learning that Hon Ras Mubarak’s conduct is in breach of Article 46(8)(a) and (c), therefore he must suffer one of the punishments outlined under article 46(9) of the Party’s Constitution. A punishment for Hon Mubarak will consolidate discipline in the Party and also serve as a deterrent to other members who have made it an article of faith to violate the Party’s constitution.

By this letter, I request that Hon Ras Mubarak is referred to the party’s National Disciplinary Committee for the needed and necessary action to be taken.

Thank you

Yours Sincerely
Efo Worlanyo Tsekpo.
BONO REGIONAL YOUTH ORGANISER.

Source: Daily Mail GH