Fifi Fiave Kwetey
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is upset and appears to be bleeding as a result of the successful approval of nominations for six people as Ministers, Ministers of State, and a Deputy Minister.
K.T. Hammond, who was the Trade and Industry Minister designate, received 154 votes to 116, whilst Bryan Acheampong, who was nominated Food and Agriculture Minister, received 167 votes to 98.
Stephen Asamoah Boateng, who is heading to the Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ministry, received 147 votes to 122 and Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, designated as Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, received 152 votes to 117.
O.B. Amoah, who was elevated to Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation & Rural Development, received 149 votes to 120, whilst Dr. Stephen Amoah, Deputy Minister designate for Trade and Industry, received 146 votes to 123.’
NDC Position
The Minority NDC group in Parliament had declared a principled position that no new ministers would be approved until the President took steps to significantly reduce the size of his government, and the results of the secret voting have shocked and disappointed party members.
Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson wrote on his social media page, “To say I am profoundly disappointed with the outcome of yesterday’s proceedings is an understatement.”
“While it is true that we did not achieve the desired reduction in the number of ministers under this government, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the over 100 NDC MPs who worked tirelessly to represent the will of the majority of the Ghanaian people,” he added.
While the outcome was not what they had hoped for, he believed the NDC MPs could still work together to achieve their objectives.
“I remain hopeful that, by continuing to engage in constructive dialogue and collaboration, we can find a way forward that benefits all Ghanaians,” he stated.
Mahama Disappointment
Ex-President John Dramani Mahama, who is running for re-election to lead the NDC in the 2024 general election, has also expressed disappointment, claiming that the Minority’s position was supported by a large number of Ghanaians and public advocacy groups.
“Unfortunately, Ghanaians were sorely disappointed yesterday when several members of the Minority for some parochial and personal interest voted against the principled position adopted by the party,” he also wrote on his Facebook wall.
“Those responsible for this betrayal must do some serious soul searching and learn to place national interest over personal interest,” he urged.
According to him, equally disappointing is the President’s refusal to seize the opportunity to realign and downsize his bloated government when the NPP flagbearer aspirants and the Chieftaincy Minister resigned.
“Clearly in this time of crisis and excruciating hardships, President Akufo-Addo, his NPP administration and some of our MPs are out of tune with the mood of the Ghanaian people.
“I still believe, as I said in Ho recently, that in this time of crisis, the government can still run efficiently with not more than 60 ministers,” he intimated.
He said 2024 offers the NDC an opportunity to work hard to defeat the government, which he described as reckless and is seeking to destroy Ghana’s democracy and the very livelihoods of Ghanaians.
NDC Secretariat
As if that wasn’t enough, the NDC national secretariat issued a statement saying that for reasons unknown to them, some of its MPs chose to prioritise their personal interests over the interests of Ghanaians.
“Ghanaians would recall that the party issued a directive to the Minority Caucus in Parliament to reject the new Ministerial nominees a few weeks ago,” the statement signed by the party’s General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, noted.
It continued, “This was in alignment with the pervasive view of Ghanaians that this moment of economic crisis and financial haircuts, calls for the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to show by example that it is willing to reduce its expenditure by downsizing its government among other things.”
The statement condemned the alleged betrayal of “the expressed will of the party” and added that the NDC MPs had also betrayed Ghanaians’ desire.
By Ernest Kofi Adu