Tuesday, August 12, 2008

DECISION DAY FOR GT-VODAFONE DEAL

PARLIAMENT resumes sitting today to look at the GT-Vodafone Agreement. Whereas the government is defending its decision to sell 70 per cent of GT's shares to Vodafone and workers of GT are rallying behind the government, other notable groups like minority parties, labour unions and churches have opposed the deal.
If one decision has so polarised the country, then it comes only second to the decision to go HIPC in 2001. Perhaps, one can recall the decision to sell GCB shares, which also attracted so much furore, thus, stampeding the government into retreat.
In this particular case of the GT-Vodafone deal, it appears the government is determined to go ahead and those opposed to the government's decision have also vowed to go the extra mile to halt the deal.
Some six leading members of the CPP who also describe themselves as concerned citizens of Ghana have gone to court while the Committee for Joint Action (CJA), a rainbow coalition drawn mainly from the minority parties, are also bent on picketing Parliament House today.
In all these, it is democracy that is at work and we call on supporters of each side of the divide of the GT-Vodafone deal to exercise restraint in putting across their opinions.
We appeal against the use of foul language and any attempt to incite members of the public to violence. The beauty of all the discussion so far is that the matter is being laid before Parliament, the elected representatives of the people, to take a decision.
The DAILY GRAPHIC cautions against any boycott of the emergency sitting today and counsels that all MPs should make an appearance in the House and argue their positions as forcefully as possible.
We expect heckling, name-calling and rowdy scenes but at the end of the day it is hoped that good sense would prevail so that the pros and cons of the GT-Vodafone deal would be made known to the public.
We must remember that in a Parliamentary democracy, majority decision will always prevail so that at the end of the day if the decision by the majority of the members is that 70 per cent of GT shares must go to Vodafone, after all issues have been considered, Ghanaians must respect the decision albeit disappointed.
It is essential to remind ourselves to always be guided by the national interest in the decisions that we make. As representatives of the people, they are bound to make decisions that would advance the cause of humanity.
In all the furore, the bottom line should be a process that would promote the revival of GT. After all, Parliament is the rightful institution where laws are made and agreements are ratified and no person or group of persons must do anything that will usurp the power and authority vested in the House.
Let the Minority have their say and the Majority their way in Parliament today. However, the final decision must not be for political expediency or electoral advantage but to make Ghana a better place.
At the end of the day, let the rule of law be the winner. And let us move forward as one people with one common destiny.

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