No matter how I look at the decision of the Fomena MP, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, I cannot but conclude that he has perpetuated some sort of fraud on the electorate of Fomena Constituency by his blanket decision to do business with the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Why do I say so?
Fraud is defined as:
“An intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain or to deprive a victim of a legal right,” or “An intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right”.
When he decided to go independent, he was humiliated, sacked as a member of the NPP and thrown out of Parliament. The people of Fomena, made up of NPP and NDC sympathizers as well as floating voters may have voted for him based on the following considerations:
- Empathy on the way he was maltreated by the NPP
- His independence of mind and stance as a person
- The will to be independent
- His ideology of being non-aligned
- Holding himself out as non-NPP and non-NDC
The Fomena MP formally writes to the Speaker of Parliament that he shall “……for the purposes of transacting business in the House of Parliament associate with the NPP Caucus throughout the tenure of the Eighth Parliament”. To avoid doubt he goes on to say “…. I do hereby affirm that I shall cooperate and collaborate with the NPP Caucus in the Eighth Parliament”.
What did he think he was doing on behalf of the people who sent him to represent them from the Fomena Constituency? By his entrenched position it comes across as if it was intentional to hoodwink them to think that he was independent, gained their confidence and made them surrender their legal right to vote for him thereby depriving them of their legal right to either vote for another candidate or not to have voted at all. This is dishonourable!
By the definition of fraud, this is akin to fraud perpetrated on the electorate of the Fomena Constituency. The apparent fraud is particularly more pronounced on the floating voters who were disenchanted with both the NPP and NDC parties and wanted him to put Ghana first instead of the group polarization on issues by the NPP and NDC.
I would want to liken the relationship between the Fomena MP and the Constituents as a contract. He offered “non-alignment” and the people accepted this independence of thought and voted for him, just for him to make a U-turn to get himself officially aligned to the NPP. This in contract law is a fraudulent misrepresentation, that is a lie or false statement that is used to trick a person into an agreement.
It was a bold and brave decision to leave the party in power. The expectation of the voters was that he would support any party that seeks to protect their interests in Parliament and not follow any group polarization but the Fomena MP has been deceitful to the people of Fomena for his polarized, blanket position. Why get yourself involved in an NDC versus NPP ‘brawl’?
For now, he can have his SAY and they are quietly watching him with their arms on their chins. I can bet that the way Ghanaians are voting, should he go back in 2024 the voters will surely have their WAY for his betrayal.
No vote is permanent in today’s Ghana, but MPs don’t seem to learn. It will get worse as luckily with the Free SHS many more people are getting educated and their “eyes” are being opened and they are becoming more discerning.
By Kofi Owusu
