Accusations of betrayal and deep suspicion are hanging over Members of Parliament (MPs) of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) following the approval of six ministerial nominees, which the party had directed its lawmakers to reject.
Parliament after hours of voting last Friday, approved President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s ministers with some NDC MPs voting for the nominees in a secret ballot in defiance of the party’s directive.
Consequently, the NDC General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey in a statement issued on Saturday, March 23, 2023, condemned the conduct of the defiant MPs, describing them as self-seeking, traitors and deviants.
“The party, on behalf of all Ghanaians, condemns this conduct in no uncertain terms, as it not only betrays the expressed will of the party, but the desire of the Ghanaian people and constitutes a massive stab in the back of the good people of Ghana.
“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.
“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.
“We note however, that some Members of Parliament on the side of the NDC Minority for reasons known to themselves, elected to place their parochial interest ahead of the interest of Ghanaians.
“The party wishes to reaffirm its principled position for President Akufo-Addo to downsize his bloated government and reset his priorities to reflect the difficult times Ghanaians find themselves in.
“The party commends highly, the leadership of the Minority caucus in Parliament and Members of Parliament who stayed true to the expectations of the party and the Ghanaian people.
“We will stop at nothing to identify them and publicly laud them in due course. Their loyalty and patriotism will not be forgotten”, the statement added.
Body corporate
NDC, the statement pointed out, is a body corporate, with multiple structures, represented by elected and appointed officers who are expected to act in the supreme interest of suffering Ghanaians, particularly the over six million supporters of the party.
“The party as a corporate entity therefore bears no liability for the deviant action of the few self-seeking Members of Parliament who betrayed the collective cause of the party and the nation.
“Undoubtedly, our country currently faces the biggest economic meltdown in living memory. It is therefore unpardonable for any person, not to talk of a Member of Parliament who believes in the ideals of the NDC, to lend support to the ongoing recklessness by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government.
“The NDC shall continue to hold the government accountable for the socio-economic quandary that our country finds itself and present our superior alternatives to Ghanaians in our bid to rescue the soul of our nation”, the statement added.
NDC MPs bribed
Adding to the apparent confusion within the main opposition party, NDC MP for Cape Coast South George Ricketts-Hagan alleged that some of his colleagues took bribes to vote for the ministerial nominees.
Speaking on TV3’s Saturday morning programme, ‘The Key Points’, Mr. Ricketts-Hagan also claimed some of his colleagues voted for the nominees to sabotage the new Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and party for changing the leadership of the minority caucus in Parliament.
According to him, there is a small group of the NDC MPs who were not happy with the changes and such people were out there to sabotage the new leadership.
“It was clear undermining of Ato Forson’s leadership and greed on the part of our MPs. They are more interested in getting money for themselves.
“I’m not suggesting the old leaders played the lead to sabotage but some who supported, some have moved on but I believe there are still people who were not happy with events and felt that they should punish the party,” he said.
On the bribery allegation, Mr. Ricketts-Hagan said some nominees had told leadership of the Minority that they have induced 30 members from NDC side to get the appointees affirmed.
“Greediness on the part of some of our MPs. There are some who are more interested in enriching themselves than serving the interest of the caucus.
“The leadership know because per the information as I said, some of these nominees spoke to the leadership and were telling them in meetings and in conclave with our guys on the opposite side that, look, we have 30 of your people bought and 40 of these people have told us that they were going to do the needful,” the Cape Coast South MP further alleged.
The MP also acknowledged that the relationship between the appointees and some members of the Minority caucus influenced the voting pattern despite the party’s directive to whip all members along one line.
Ato Forson disappointed
Meanwhile, the Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson, has expressed his disappointment following failure of his caucus to stop the approval of ministerial and judicial appointees of the President.
In a Facebook post he shared on Saturday, the Minority Leader said he was saddened by the things that transpired during the vote to approve the appointees on Friday, March 25, 2023.
“To say I am profoundly disappointed with the outcome of yesterday’s proceedings is an understatement,” he bemoaned.
Dr. Ato Forson who is also the MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam however commended members of his caucus who stood with him in the quest to stop the president from adding more appointees to his government.
“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.
“These MPs have demonstrated their unwavering commitment to the betterment of our society. Their tireless efforts to push for a reduction in the number of ministers are a testament to their dedication to our shared cause”, Dr. Ato Forson stated.
Ministers approved
Following the parliamentary approval, the Adansi Asokwa MP, K.T Hammond will fully become the Minister of Trade and Industry after swearing into office by the President with the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Stephen Amoah serving as his deputy.
Mr. Bryan Acheampong will be the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development and Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance.
