Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI Africa, has debunked the President's assertion that there was no consensus on the planned December 17 referendum, hence the decision to abort it.
According to him, the consensus was that the referendum was not necessary and it would have changed nothing.
He wrote on his Facebook timeline that the No vote would have been a verdict of Ghanaians rather than defeat and it would have sent a strong notice that the district assembly and local government elections should not be partisan.
"You say there was no consensus? There was a consensus that the referendum was not necessary. Like I said earlier it was going to change nothing and therefore was pointless whichever way it went... Anyway if it turned out [there was] a NO it wouldn’t have been a defeat. It would have been our verdict. Not a partisan loss," his post read.
Withdrawal of referendum
President Akufo-Addo in his address to the nation on Sunday, December 1, 2019, stated that his government will work to attain a broad national consensus on the referendum because it was as important, as the amendment of an entrenched provision of the Constitution, is critical.
He said, “I do not believe that such an amendment should be driven as a party matter. There has to be a clear national consensus and agreement amongst the populace that a particular entrenched provision no longer serves the interest of the people, and thus, has to be removed."
He added that the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Hajia Alima Mahama MP, who is spearheading the process, on behalf of the government, will abort the process, and see to the withdrawal of the bills for the amendment of the Constitution, both in respect of Articles 243(1) and 55(3).
Below is Kofi Bentil's full post
"Dear Sir,
Thanks for canceling the pointless referendum.
You say there was no consensus? There was a consensus that the referendum was not necessary.
Like I said earlier it was going to change nothing and therefore was pointless which ever way it went.
The real issue is, we want to vote for DCEs. Let’s focus on that.
Anyway if it turned out the be a NO it wouldn’t have been a defeat. It would have been our verdict. Not a partisan loss.
Medaase."
Kofi Bentil