Former President John Mahama has expressed disappointment at the approval of President Akufo-Addo’s new ministers by Parliament.
Some Minority MPs joined the Majority caucus in Parliament Friday night to approve some six new ministers of the government.
Before the balloting, the opposition NDC had told its MPs not approve the nominees since it will increase government expenditure at a time the country is struggling to balance the economy.
Ghana is struggling to get a bailout from the International Monetary the Fund (IMF) after the West African country borrowed hugely to an unsustainable debt level under Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta who is a cousin to President Akufo-Addo.
As a condition to get an IMF support, the government had been advised to reduce its size, but Akufo-Addo appointed new ministers to the chagrin of the opposition NDC and a section of the citizens and civil society organisations.
After the Appointment Committee rejected the ministerial nominees, the Minority caucus leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, announced that his side was ready to vote against the nominees.
However, after a secret balloting in Parliament, all the nominees were approved despite the Majority’s inability to get all members to vote.
Adansi Asokwa MP, Kobina Tahir Hammond was approved to head the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Dr Stephen Amoah who nominated for Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry as well as the Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong who was nominated for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture were all approved by Parliament.
The Member of Parliament for Karaga, Mohammed Amin Adam, who was nominated as Minister of State at the Finance Ministry and Herbert Krapah, a Deputy Minister nominee at the Trade Ministry nominated as Deputy Minister for the Energy Ministry were also approved.
Reacting to the anger of NDC foot soldiers, Mr Mahama, a 2020 candidate of the NDC said he was “also disappointed” at the turn of events, especially as the country is struggling with its finances.
Below is his statement published on his Facebook wall.
HE John Dramani Mahama on parliament’s approval of new ministerial nominees
A couple of weeks ago, our NDC group in Parliament announced a principled position not to approve any new ministers until the President has taken steps to significantly reduce the size of his government.
This position was supported by a broad section 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.
I am also disappointed.
Those responsible for this betrayal must do some serious soul searching and learn to place national interest over personal interest.
Equally disappointing is the President’s refusal to seize the opportunity to realign and downsize his bloated government when the NPP flagbearer hopefuls 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, government can still run efficiently with not more than 60 ministers.
For our grassroots members and all Ghanaians who are disappointed by this insensitivity, I urge you not to despair.
2024 offers us an opportunity to work hard to defeat this reckless government that seeks to destroy our democracy and the very livelihoods of Ghanaians- an opportunity for us to work and build the Ghana we all want from January 07, 2025.
By Henryson Okrah|Myxyzonline.com
