Isn’t the battle the Lord’s anymore? – Franklin Cudjoe on referendum

President of Imani Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe, has waded into the controversies surrounding the upcoming referendum on December 17, 2019.

He stated that annulling the referendum will be a cowardice act on the part of the decision-makers which seems to be a re-affirmation of his ‘YES’ vote stance on the referendum.

According to Mr Cudjoe in a Facebook post, “Anyone contemplating cancelling the referendum is not bold.”

The Electoral Commission, last month, announced a nationwide referendum to be conducted on December 17, 2019, to enable citizens decide if an entrenched clause in the 1992 Constitution Article 55(3) needs to be amended to permit political parties in Ghana to participate in a local government election.

A voter turnout of at least 40% and 75% Yes votes is required to affirm the government’s desire to amend the Article 55(3) in the Constitution.

Pressure has mounted on government especially by the opposition to rescind its decision on the incoming referendum polls.

Members of the NDC at a press conference last week, kicked against the introduction of partisanship into Ghana's local governance system stating that although it supported the idea of electing metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs), the December 17 referendum had nothing to do with the election of MMDCEs.

However, Franklin Cudjoe used the NPP’s mantra in a questionable form; “Isn’t the battle the Lord’s anymore?” which purports his encouragement to the Akufo-Addo administration to stand firm and proceed with the election process.

His previous comments on the issue on his Facebook page noted that ‘YES’ vote will also help “break the NDC-NPP duopoly and contribute to national development, but the rather thoughtful NO campaigners aren't having this conversation - instead, they just believe, emotionally, that it is a bad idea. Sad.”

According to him, the ‘YES’ vote will encourage the growth of smaller political parties in the country, hence it is sad people are against it.

He further called on organisations and individuals campaigning for a ‘NO’ vote in the December 17 referendum to come together and advocate for change in the characteristics of politics they find offensive.

“Anyone contemplating cancelling the referendum is not bold. Isn’t the battle the Lord’s anymore? God is still in the miracle biz!” he wrote on his Facebook page.