Former President, John Dramani Mahama has attacked the National Democratic Congress Members of Parliament for voting to approve the six Ministers nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo against the position of the party.

Mr. Mahama expressed his disappointment and stated those responsible for this betrayal must do some serious soul searching and learn to place national interest over personal interest.

Parliament on Friday, March 24, 2023, finally approved the nomination of KT Hammond, as Minister of Trade and Industry, Bryan Acheampong, Minister of Food and Agriculture and Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

The others are: Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Osei Bonsu Amoah, Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development and Dr. Stephan Amoah, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry.

Reacting to the outcome on his Facebook page, the NDC 2020 Presidential Candidate who has also declared his intention to ran for 2024, said, “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.”

He lamented however that 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.

Read the full statement:

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.