Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Nii Ayikoi Otoo has criticized the Minority in Parliament, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for lacking strategy and relying too heavily on public commentary.
He pointed out that the NDC’s tendency to openly discuss its plans has weakened its position, giving the New Patriotic Party (NPP) the chance to effectively counter its moves.
In an interview with Citi FM on Friday, October 18, Otoo emphasized that the NDC’s habit of publicly airing their intentions has been counterproductive.
By revealing their strategies in advance, he argued, they allow the NPP ample time to prepare and take action against them.
Otoo specifically referred to the aftermath of the Speaker of Parliament’s recent ruling, which declared four MPs’ seats vacant.
He noted that even before the procedural issues were fully addressed, NDC members had already begun discussing plans to repeal certain laws and implement other changes, further weakening their stance.
The former Attorney General urged the NDC to adopt a more tactful approach in their political strategies and avoid unnecessary public declarations that only empower their opponents.
They were in the media discussing these matters instead of focusing on their work in the Chamber.
he remarked.
Even before they brought up the issue of the four MPs for debate, they had started talking on political platforms about removing those four MPs from Parliament.
Regarding the Supreme Court’s stay of the Speaker’s ruling that declared four parliamentary seats vacant, Otoo observed that the NDC had already begun discussing the removal of the affected MPs on political platforms before formally addressing the issue in Parliament.
He contended that this early publicity allowed the NPP to act quickly, organizing and filing legal actions to counter the NDC’s plans.
I think I should take this opportunity to advise the NDC: they shot themselves in the foot by talking too much. They discuss strategies and tactics, but it seems lost on them. Their actions frightened the majority and pushed them to take protective measures.
We [NDC] are going to amend laws and make changes—just keep quiet and do your work. In the end, when you achieve what you want, that’s what matters.
Before you act, consider your strategy and tactics, and stop making so much noise. Their noise was so intense that it triggered a survival instinct in their opponents, compelling the majority to take the decisions they did.