In a sharp rebuttal to the Minority Caucus in Parliament, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Member of Parliament for Abura Asebu Kwamankese and Acting Spokesperson to President John Dramani Mahama, has called out what he described as blatant double standards in their opposition to the official assumption to office of Dr Johnson Asiama as Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
Kwakye Ofosu’s critique follows the Minority Leader, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s recent objections to Dr. Asiama assuming office as BoG Governor pending consultations with the yet-to-be-formed Council of State.
In a letter to President Mahama dated February 4, Afenyo-Markin urged Dr. Asiama to refrain from carrying out official duties until the appointment receives the necessary constitutional endorsement.
However, Kwakye Ofosu has countered the Minority’s argument by providing evidence of similar appointments made by former President Nana Akufo-Addo without prior Council of State consultations, which the then NPP-led Majority did not oppose at the time.
“The Minority Leader complains about Dr. Johnson Asiama’s appointment as BoG Governor pending consultations with the yet-to-be-formed Council of State. Here is the same procedure used to appoint the Common Fund Administrator by Prez Akufo-Addo in 2017.”
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP for Abura Asebu Kwamankese and Acting Spokesperson to President Mahama
In a letter signed by former President Akufo-Addo on February 10, 2017, the said appointment was being made “pending the statutorily required consultation with a yet-to-be reconstituted Council of State.”
The letter further referenced the constitutional basis of the appointment under Article 252(4) and Section 14(2) of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845). What sayeth him about this?” Kwakye Ofosu quizzed, challenging the Minority Leader’s consistency on the issue.
Beyond 2017: Appointment without Council of State Approval
Beyond the 2017 precedent, Kwakye Ofosu also highlighted another similar appointment made by former President Akufo-Addo in 2023, involving the Chief Executive Officer for the Community Water and Sanitation Agency.
Like the Common Fund Administrator appointment, Kwakye Ofosu pointed out that this appointment also proceeded without initial consultation with the Council of State, yet received no objections from the then NPP-led Majority Caucus in Parliament.
“These cases provide irrefutable evidence of the same procedure being used under President Akufo-Addo without opposition from the Minority Leader, yet he now objects when it involves Dr. Asiama under President Mahama. This is the height of hypocrisy.”
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP for Abura Asebu Kwamankese and Acting Spokesperson to President Mahama
The ongoing debate over Dr. Asiama’s appointment comes at a time of heightened political tensions, with the ruling NDC and opposition NPP trading accusations over governance decisions.
The Minority’s stance has been viewed by some political observers as an attempt to undermine President Mahama’s authority, even as he takes steps to form his government.
Political analysts have noted that the current controversy underscores a pattern in Ghanaian politics where partisan considerations often overshadow consistency in constitutional interpretation.
The question remains whether the Minority will acknowledge these precedents or continue its opposition to Dr. Asiama’s appointment.
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