Mensah-Bonsu�s 20yrs In Parliament Is Dictatorship

As the race to select parliamentary candidates for the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) across the country on June 13 gathers momentum, one of the aspiring candidates for the Suame Constituency, Kwadwo Boateng Genfi ,affectionately called ‘Home Boy’ has described the twenty years of the Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu’s rule in Parliament as a complete dictatorship.

“Twenty years of an MP in Parliament is undemocratic and total dictatorship. The Parliamentary seat is not a dynasty, our MP has done his part and must give way for fresh ideas,” he stressed.

Mr. Genfi speaking to the DAILY HERITAGE in an interview said in some constituencies some Members of Parliament, especially, those in the strongholds of the party have held on to power for too long, thereby, making them very lazy and lackadaisical to address the challenges of the electorate.

“The problem most constituents are facing in particular, in the Ashanti region is that majority of the MPs consider their seats as safe, therefore, they become lazy with the excuse that no matter the quality of candidates from the other political parties they are sure to win the seat; it is high time we change for the better, “he remarked.      

The bid by the Minority Leader in parliament, to represent the Suame Constituency for the sixth time in the 2016 elections is facing a stiff opposition from Mr. Genfi and two others.

Since 1995, when the eloquent spoken law maker in his youthful days was hand-picked by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to resent the then Old Tafo -Suame constituency, he has till date never gone through the usual preliminary process of being challenged by anyone, “but this time round he is being challenged by three persons.”

Three party members in the constituency have defied all the pleads from some top echelons of the party to allow Mr. Mensah-Bonsu to go again as unopposed candidate to pick their forms in readiness to battle it out with him.

Mr. Genfi downplayed the assertion by some persons that parliamentary work requires experienced politicians, therefore, the caliber of Mr. Mensah-Bonsu should be maintained in the 2016 elections.

“The truth must be told, if one does not go to Parliament how can he gain experience, if we are talking about experienced parliamentarians are we suggesting that the party should go back for J.H. Mensah, Addo Kufuor among others,” he asked.

“ My commitment to go to Parliament does not mean our MP has not done well in almost twenty years in Parliament, but he must give way to another person to continue from where he would end with fresh ideas,” he remarked.

He stressed “if I were Mr. Mensah-Bonsu, the honourable thing to do would be to step down for others.”