Mahama expresses disappointment in NDC MPs for approving ministers

Former President John Dramani Mahama is appalled by how some NDC MPs voted for President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees despite a contrary directive by the party.

The NDC had earlier asked all its MPs not to support the approval of the nominees. The position was to force President Akufo-Addo to significantly reduce the size of his government.

But after a secret vote, all the nominees were approved despite the absence of three MPs from the majority side in Parliament.

The outcome of Thursday’s vote indicates several members of the Minority voted for the approval of the ministerial nominees.

The former President in a Facebook post said “Ghanaians were sorely disappointed yesterday when several members of the Minority for some parochial and personal interest voted against the principled position adopted by the party. I am also disappointed.”

He asked those responsible for the betrayal to do some serious soul-searching and learn to place the national interest over personal interest.

He is equally disappointed in the President’s refusal to seize the opportunity to “realign and downsize his bloated government when the NPP flagbearer hopefuls and the Chieftaincy minister resigned.”

Below is the full post

A couple of weeks ago, our NDC group in Parliament announced a principled position not to approve any new ministers until the President has taken steps to significantly reduce the size of his government.

This position was supported by a broad section of Ghanaians and public advocacy groups.

Unfortunately, Ghanaians were sorely disappointed yesterday when several members of the Minority for some parochial and personal interest voted against the principled position adopted by the party.

I am also disappointed.

Those responsible for this betrayal must do some serious soul-searching and learn to place national interest over personal interest.

Equally disappointing is the President’s refusal to seize the opportunity to realign and downsize his bloated government when the NPP flagbearer hopefuls and the Chieftaincy minister resigned.

Clearly, in this time of crisis and excruciating hardships, President Akufo-Addo, his NPP administration, and some of our MPs are out of tune with the mood of the Ghanaian people.

I still believe as I said in Ho recently, that in this time of crisis, the government can still run efficiently with not more than 60 ministers.

For our grassroots members and all Ghanaians who are disappointed by this insensitivity, I urge you not to despair.

2024 offers us an opportunity to work hard to defeat this reckless government that seeks to destroy our democracy and the very livelihoods of Ghanaians- an opportunity for us to work and build the Ghana we all want from January 07, 2025.