Former President John Dramani Mahama has communicated his disappointment at the choice of some National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament to break positions with the party on the endorsement of President Akufo Addo’s newly appointed Ministers and Supreme Court Justices.
On Saturday, March 25, 2023, Mahama wrote a Facebook post that called the decision made by NDC MPs to approve President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s ministerial and judicial appointees a betrayal.
“Our NDC group in Parliament announced a principled position a couple of weeks ago not to approve any new ministers until the President has taken significant steps to reduce the size of his government.
A wide range of Ghanaians and public advocacy groups supported this position. Unfortunately, Ghanaians were greatly disappointed yesterday when a number of Minority members voted against the party’s principled position out of personal and partisan motivation.
“I’m disappointed as well.” Parts of Mahama’s post stated, “Those responsible for this betrayal must do some serious soul searching and learn to place the national interest ahead of personal interest.”
Mahama went on to say that the NDC MPs who voted for the approval aren’t paying attention to the problems in the country or the demand made by some Ghanaians for the president to make this government smaller.
He stated, “Clearly, President Akufo-Addo, his NPP administration, and some of our MPs are out of tune with the mood of the Ghanaian people in this time of crisis and excruciating hardships.”
Two Supreme Court Justices and all six nominees are approved by Parliament:
After a heated debate 24 hours earlier and a tense voting process, Parliament approved all six ministerial nominees and President Akufo-Addo’s supreme court nominees on March 24.
Speaker Alban Bagbin announced the final results, which showed that all nominees received more votes than the minimum of 138 because three of the 275 eligible voters were absent.
Bryan Acheampong, an Abetifi MP, was appointed Minister of Food and Agriculture, and Kobina Tahiru Hammond, an Adansi Asokwa MP, was confirmed as Minister of Trade and Industry.
Stephen Asamoah Boateng, who will serve in the Ministry of Chieftaincy, was one of the other approved nominees. Mohammed Amin Adam, Priest of State (Service of Money), and Osei Bonsu Amoah, Service of Neighborhood Government.
