Member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) communication team, Ebo Mensah says that Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa has taken the best decision to quit the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
According to him, this move is geared at protecting Ablakwa’s political career. He said he is in full support of Okudzeto’s decision to resign from the committee.
Touching on the approval of some ministers, he averred that all other NDC MPs who consented to the approval of some ministers will suffer during the 2024 primaries of the NDC.
“Okudzeto is protecting his political career. In the 2024 primaries, these MPs will suffer. They can’t now use the excuse ‘when the decision was being taken, I wasn’t involved’ to protect themselves. If you didn’t say anything then you don’t deserve to be in parliament.”
Ebo Mensah
He further advised the party at the grassroot level to involve themselves in branch activities in order to elect the right persons in 2024.
“I will advise that as a party we will be doing party reorganization. And anyone who has the party at heart should involve themselves in the branch activities,;register and select branch Executives to select the right MPs to protect the interest of the party and country.
“I am appealing to the NDC grassroots who are saddened by what is going in the parliament;to elect the branch executive to nominate the good MPs to lead them”.
Ebo Mensah
Also on his part, any NDC MP who is “against what is going on in the party and parliament must quit [the appointments committee] or account to it in 2024.”
Okudzeto’s Resignation
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on 30th March, 2021, resigned from Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Bagbin, he explains that this was “after days of careful reflection and thoughtful considerations.”
Moreover, the North Tongu MP stated that he will not be available for the vetting of President Akufo-Addo’s nominees for Deputy ministerial positions.
Following his resignation, speculations were that it was due to the approval of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
However, the Deputy Majority Leader, Afenyo-Markin disagrees as he said Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa was part of the meeting that approved the nomination of the finance minister adding that Mr. Ablakwa never opposed the approval.
“…my brother, I sat there, he was there, we agreed; he added his voice to the decision we took. Don’t let me go into specifics, don’t let it be…as if he didn’t agree or consent to. He had the opportunity to ask question, he was part, he didn’t oppose.”
Afenyo-Markin
He further added that what some people are describing as crisis among the NDC leadership is a normal situation every party goes through.
“Its a crisis any leader goes through when there is a certain level of expectation. I hope that they would go through successfully by managing the situation.”
Afenyo-Markin
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