Former President John Mahama is unhappy with his party’s representatives in Parliament, who voted to approve the controversial six ministerial nominees by the President.
According to Mr Mahama, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had agreed in principle, “not to approve any new ministers until the President has taken steps to significantly reduce the size of his government.”
“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 said.
“I am also disappointed,” the NDC leader wrote on his Facebook page Saturday, March 25, 2023.
How MPs voted
Parliament on Friday, approved the nomination of the new ministers appointed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
At the end of voting, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin announced that 272 took part in the exercise while three MPs were absent.
KT Hammond
154 YES votes
116 NO votes
1 rejected ballot
1 abstention
Bryan Acheampong
167 YES votes
98 NO votes
4 rejected ballots
3 abstentions
Asamoah Boateng
147 YES votes
122 NO votes
3 abstentions
Mohammed Amin Adam
152 YES votes
117 NO votes
1 rejected ballot
2 abstentions
OB Amoah
149 YES votes
120 NO votes
3 abstentions
Stephan Amoah
146 YES votes
123 No votes
3 abstentions
John Mahama’s reaction
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.
