Former President John Mahama has called out some NDC MPs who passed all six NPP ministers when the party has agreed to do otherwise.
In a hard-hitting Facebook post, he said, “Those responsible for this betrayal must do some serious soul-searching and learn to place national interest over personal interest.”
According to him, the Minority in Parliament had announced a principled position not to approve any new ministers until the President has taken steps to significantly reduce the size of his government.
However, he said when the same MPs were presented with an opportunity to do something about the situation, they fluffed the lines.
Mr Mahama, who is gunning to lead the party in the 2024 election said, “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.
After hours of disagreements and a brief suspension on Friday, Parliament finally approved President Akufo-Addo’s six ministerial nominees.
Adansi Asokwa MP, Kobina Tahir Hammond has been confirmed to head the Ministry of Trade and Industry, with Dr Stephen Amoah appointed as Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry.
Abetifi MP, Brian Acheampong has been approved as the Food and Agriculture Minister and the Karaga MP, Mohammed Amin Adam, has been approved as Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.
Stephen Asamoah Boateng was confirmed as the new Religious and Chieftaincy Affairs Minister, while Osei Bonsu Amoah heads the Local Government and Rural Development as Minister of State.
Mr KT Hammond secured 154 yes votes as against 116 NO votes to gain approval from the house. Dr Stephen Amoah received 146 votes against 123 NO votes to pass the approval stage.
Also, Brian Acheampong was approved after receiving 167 YES votes. Meanwhile, Amin Adam secured 152 YES votes while O.B Amoah had 149 YES votes.
But Mahama said, “I am also disappointed” with the results.
He said, “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.”
The former President added that “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.”
On his campaign to lead the NDC in Ho recently, Mr Mahama reiterated that in a time when government is knocking down the doors of the IMF for a bailout, the size of government must be downsized.
He stated that in such a time of crisis, government can still run efficiently with not more than 60 ministers.
Mr Mahama urged the grassroots members of the party and “Ghanaians who are disappointed by this insensitivity, I urge you not to despair.”
He added, “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 7, 2025.”
