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. ”
Source: citifmonline.com
