The national leadership of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed disappointment over some of its members of parliament voting to approve some six ministers nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
All six nominees of the President, secured parliamentary approval through a majority vote on Friday, March 24, 2023. This is despite a directive from NDC to its MPs in the House, to reject the nominees. This was in alignment with the pervasive view of the NDC 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.
In a statement by the General Secretary of the party, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the NDC said some of its MP’s placed their personal interests above that of the party and the nation at large, during the voting which had both sides of the House boasting the same numbers.
“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, 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.”
NDC General Secretary
The party while lauding the MP’s who voted against the nominees said it remained opposed to the approval of the ministers, on the basis of the size of the government in the face of the current economic challenges the country is facing.
“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.”
NDC General Secretary
Moreover, the NDC claims to continue to hold the government accountable for the socio-economic quandary that the country is in and promises to put forth their superior alternatives to the people of Ghana, in their bid to rescue the nation.
NDC MPs Showed Asiedu Nketiah Who Had Power
However, Samuel Koku Anyidoho, a former general secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), refuted assertions that parliamentarians of the party, who voted to approve appointees of the government, against the order of the party, are betrayers.
According to him, the MP’s did no wrong but rather showed that they cannot be controlled by the Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.
He rather claimed that the MP’s of the NDC, showed the leadership of the NDC that when it comes to matters of Parliament, members of the prestigious Parliament had the sole responsibility of making decisions and not pressure from outside the Parliament House.
In a series of tweets, Anyidoho added that the presence of Asiedu Nketiah was what annoyed the MP’s the most and made them vote in favour of the government.
“How can the approval of Ministers be considered as treachery? Were we not excited when some NPP MP’s helped us win the speakership? Was that also treachery from the NPP? Why do some people think they have more sense than others?
“So, is it Koku Anyidoho who influenced the voting pattern in Parliament…such that the presence of Asiedu-Nketiah in the Chamber rather infuriated the MPs? Why do some people think that we are all stupid and will follow commands that don’t make sense? You Asiedu-Nketiah, you are still shamelessly serving on the Parliamentary Services Board and collecting your fat allowances, and you think you can intimidate MP’s who won Seats without your input?”
Koku Anyidoho
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