Mr Paul Adom Otchere has posited a very interesting but deceptive "theory" to justify who becomes the next Speaker of Ghana's Parliament. According to the ace broadcaster, "anytime a non-Ga becomes Speaker of Parliament, the ruling party loses the preceding election"
Many people have started running commentary with this half truth proposition in support of Prof Mike Ocquaye's bid to become the next Speaker.
In the wisdom of Mr Adom Otchere and his ilk, Prof Ocquaye's appointment as Speaker will guarantee automatic victory for the NPP in the next presidential election.
The position, I understand, is supposedly rooted in history. If that is the case as Mr Adom Otchere wants Ghanaians to believe, let's dig into history to ascertain the the truth or otherwise of the "theory".
There is nothing wrong with anybody during PR work for his preferred candidate for any political position. I have personally done that in the past so I see nothing wrong with it if someone takes up that job.
What I detest is the attempt to skew history in support of one's pet project. Fact is, Mr Otchere's "theory" is historically flawed and theoretically bankrupt.
From 1951 to 2016, Ghana has produced 10 Speakers of Parliament. Between 1951-1957, Sir Emmanuel Charles Quist, a Ga, served as Speaker under the CPP government.
Under the same CPP government, Justice Akiwumi, a Nigerian who naturalized in Ghana, became the second Speaker. With him as Speaker, CPP won the election. Then came Justice Richard Asiedu as Speaker under the CPP government.
The preceding period was fraught with atrocious coups so no one political party was able to hold on to power. Mr Otchere's theory therefore does not support any event in the first, second and third Republics.
He may find cover in the Fourth Republic with the examples of Sekyi Hughes and Doe Adjaho. Even that, the theory again would collapse. Justice D F Annan served as Speaker in the NDC1 administration for eight years. He was Speaker when NDC retained power in 1996 and lost power in 2000.
Basing the theory on two examples cited above is historically illogical. He could have relied on Prof Ocquaye's impeccable credentials in political science and law to make a fine case for his "beloved" Prof Ocquaye. This talk about a Ga Speaker of Parliament providing the stage for reelection of a ruling party is seriously earsplitting.
Amos Blessing Amorse
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