Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo, Director of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has responded to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s critique of President John Dramani Mahama regarding mass dismissals.
He challenged the former Vice President’s moral authority to speak on the matter, suggesting that a private phone call to the President would have been more appropriate than issuing a public statement.
Tameklo, in a strongly worded response, noted that Dr. Bawumia’s statement failed to acknowledge the hardship suffered by young Ghanaians whose appointments were revoked en masse in 2017 under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
“Good morning, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Vice President and former NPP flag bearer. I read through your statement addressed to your senior brother, President John Dramani Mahama.”
Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo
Tameklo accused the NPP administration of engaging in the same practices they are now condemning, recalling the mass termination of appointments that took place when they assumed office in 2017.
“Reading through your entire statement, there was nowhere you attempted to apologize to the young Ghanaians who lost their jobs in similar mass revocations of appointments in 2017.”
Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo
He lamented that the NPP administration, led by Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia, failed to show leadership in preventing these dismissals.
Referencing the governance style of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, Tameklo emphasized that Mills sought to be a unifying leader.
“President Professor John Evans Atta Mills, may his soul rest in peace, decided that he would be a father to all. This decision didn’t sit well with a lot of NDC members who suffered under President Kufuor. But as a leader, he thought that it was best for Ghana and our quest for national unity and cohesion.”
Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo
Tameklo lamented that the Akufo-Addo administration chose a different approach, citing the mass revocation of appointments at the National Service Secretariat under the leadership of Hon. Mustapha Ussif, now the MP for Yagaba Kubori.
He recalled that his law firm took legal action to challenge these dismissals, but the case was dismissed in court.
As a result, many affected individuals endured years of hardship. He criticized Dr. Bawumia for failing to intervene when he had the opportunity to put an end to such actions.
Questioning Bawumia’s Moral Authority
Consequently, Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo did not hold back in questioning Dr. Bawumia’s moral basis for criticizing President Mahama, given his failure to intervene when his own party engaged in mass dismissals.
“What is your moral basis for your call to President Mahama?” he asked pointedly.
He recalled a statement made by former Senior Minister Nana Yaw Osafo-Maafo during his ministerial vetting, where he stated that the NPP government would “quietly lay them off.”
Tameklo further criticized religious leaders for their silence at the time, arguing that many of those dismissed were perceived to be NDC supporters.
“I remember cautioning against such mass dismissals in the past, especially when I was going to court to defend the case against the NSS. Because often the people who suffer are just desperate young Ghanaians who are just looking for jobs.”
Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo
Tameklo described the Akufo-Addo administration’s approach to job dismissals between 2017 and 2024 as resembling a political purge.
He likened the situation to a coup d’état and noted that he had cautioned his young friends in the NPP about the potential repercussions of such actions.
“I used to tell my NPP young friends that Nana Addo is not a good example because at 72 years old, I felt he had nothing to lose. His direct children were not involved in public services. He oriented them towards business. He could afford to dismiss people in such a mass manner because there was no way it would affect him.”
Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo
Tameklo contrasted this approach with that of the late President Mills, who had dedicated years to public service and understood firsthand the effects of such decisions on ordinary citizens.
He suggested that Mills’ experience made him more mindful of the consequences of mass dismissals, ensuring a more considerate approach to governance.
The Need For Political Reform
Furthermore, Tameklo emphasized that if the NDC chooses not to adopt a similar approach now, it risks alienating its own members who endured hardships over the past eight years.
He argued that those who faced job losses and political marginalization would find it difficult to accept a lack of reciprocal action, potentially leading to frustration and discontent within the party.
“They won’t understand. Like I said on Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, we should get to the point where we can all agree that such mass recruitments should be avoided three months to the next election.”
Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo
Accordingly, Tameklo underscored the shared duty of political leaders to safeguard the future of young Ghanaians.
He stressed that those in leadership positions have a crucial role in shaping the nation’s trajectory and ensuring opportunities for the youth. Reflecting on the past, he pointed out that Dr. Bawumia missed a critical opportunity in 2017 to demonstrate true leadership.
He expressed hope that divine guidance would direct leaders in fulfilling their responsibilities, preventing them from failing future generations.
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