Some members of parliament especially those graded poorly in the 2011 Africawatch Political Performance Index (PPI) are rolling their sleeves up in anticipation of a wild showdown with the editor of the magazine, Steve Mallory.
Most of the MPs are fuming and believe the US-based editor would not have his way this time around after refusing to appear before the Privileges Committee last year following a similar report that rocked the foundations of the House.
The Africawatch�s PPI released on Tuesday, rated 18 politicians F as failures, scored only one person New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Professor Mike Ocquaye, with an A while eight others followed with A-. Nine officials earned a B+.
A total of 309 politicians were graded, 32 were awarded a B and 25 a B-. Moving down the list, 60 earned a C+, while 59 merited a C and 39 a C-. Near the bottom of the list were 40 politicians who found themselves with a D+ and 18 with a D, leaving an unfortunate 18 with the lowest-possible grade of F.
The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Sege, Alfred Abayateye, who has been upgraded from a previous C to C+ is very angry with the magazine. He told Citi News the editor has no right whatsoever to grade him.
�Last year he graded me. I have not done any work for him to grade me,� Abayateye said. �Likewise this year he has no right and authority to grade me. He didn�t give me any work to do for him to grade me. �
�I reject the ratings. I�m not in agreement with anything that that paper has done. Africawatch has no right to do that. If he is a Ghanaian he must come and stay in Ghana and work in Ghana.
"He has changed his name, helping to improve on the economy of somebody�s country and what right or authority has he got to grade me,� Abayateye charged
But his colleague NDC MP for Lower Manya, Michael Teye Nyaunu, who scored C+ from a previous C- believes the latest grade is an indication of his good performance in Parliament.
�Obviously it tells you that I�m performing well,� he said. �Next time they may give me A+. I really don�t side with him [Nyaunu]. Certainly, Africawatch can grade us the way they see us. If Hon. Abayateye is saying they haven�t given him any job so therefore they can�t grade him, I totally disagree. �
However, a deputy Roads Minister, Dr. Oakley Quaye Kumah, who scored an F is a worried man because he believes the rating can be used against him at his constituency.
�To the best of my knowledge I�m doing all that I�m supposed to be doing. So if they are grading me F then they should know the criteria they are using. I cannot argue with them because none of them oversees my work,� he said.
Same cannot be said of the only A rated politician Prof. Mike Ocquaye. He said the grading should serve as a challenge to budding politicians. �Politics is a whole calling. You must be concerned about people and you must feel strongly about things that affect people. I would like to use the opportunity to advise upcoming politicians that this should be their aim. �
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