The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticized the government for allowing 24 designated ministers to start their official duties despite pending parliamentary approval.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, adjourned the House indefinitely following a disagreement with the presidency over the anti-gay bill, effectively delaying the fate of the nominees.
However, the designated ministers and deputies have already begun their work. For instance, Gender Minister-Designate Darkoa Newman addressed the media on the alleged child marriage case in Nungua Gborbu Wulomo on Thursday, April 18.
In an interview with Citi TV, Mustapha Gbande, the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, described this action as a violation of the rule of law. He added that they will hold the ministers personally responsible should any of their actions lead to financial loss for the state.
“It is just a reflection of what the government is. A government that believes that let’s break a law as long as it is politically expedient.
“This matter is in court, but the president, as you know him, would disregard even the processes because he knows that he has buried a hatchet person to do his job at the judiciary.
“That is the only motivation and reason why the government will continue to do that with flagrant disregard for the public concern and public outcry.
“Again, what would be the motivation for recycling people to be ministers when you are not confident to put them before a vetting committee? What have they got to hide? Is it because they are so incompetent? Is it because most of them have been involved in scandals in their previous ministry where they have served before?”
A member of the Minority in Parliament, Alhassan Suhuyini, has alluded that some National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs were bribed by the government to approve its newly sworn in ministers.
Speaking on Pan African Television (Aljahi & Alhaji) over the weekend, the Tamale North MP indicated that an amount of GHS40,000 was all that was needed to turn the decisions of some members of the Minority.
He implied that the dire circumstances some MPs live in made them susceptible to bribes – a condition he does not affiliate with. Mr Suhuyini therefore stated that he would not be able to vouch for his colleagues with regards to being loyal.
“I know my colleagues. So if I use myself as a yardstick, I will be unfair. And I say that I can’t be tempted with money. But I know the situation that others live in. So when you give them a task at a time I know they can be tempted with money and I draw your attention to it, it is not because I can be tempted with money. So we need a strategy. Some people, GHC40,000 to raise that to file was such a big deal. Yes, it doesn’t excuse whatever they did. But that is judging them on your standard and not their standard,” he said.
The Tamale North MP noted that the betrayal could have been avoided should things have been put in their rightful places by the party leadership.
“It is condemnable, unacceptable that anybody in Parliament will sacrifice a party interest, National interest for that but people did. Could you have prevented it? I believe we could have a party, if we were honest and planned better,” he asserted.
On March 24, 2023, the Minority in Parliament came under intense criticism by the rank and file of the NDC.
The NDC MPs failed to uphold their word to reject the five individuals President Akufo-Addo had appointed to head a number of ministries.
Since then, it has been speculated that some MPs had been convinced by the government with a token. The exact MPs who were compromised have not been fished out since the incident.
The General Secretary of the NDC, Fiifii Kwetey, per reports, has however, provided an uncompleted list of loyal MPs who voted against the approval of then ministerial nominees.
So far, the identities of 46 loyal NDC MPs have reportedly been released by Mr Fiifi Kwetey via Whatsapp. It is believed that 39 MPs betrayed the party.
Kobla Mensah Wisdom Woyome (South Tongu MP), Gizella Akushika Tetteh-Agbotui (Awutu Senya West MP), Ernest Henry Norgbey (Ashaiman MP), Edward Abambire Bawa (Bongo MP), Yusif Sulemana (Bole Bamboi MP), Richard Kwame Sefe (Anlo MP) and Yao Gomado (Akan MP) are among those viewed as loyalists.
But the likes of former Minority leader and his ex-Chief Whip, Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mubarak respectively, are yet to find their names on the list.
Following the incident, Mr Muntaka Mubarak spoke against the fact that Party interests were being pursued in Parliament rather than national interest.
“We are taking too many entrenched positions on both sides, those in government taking too much entrench position, those in opposition taking extreme positions and I can tell you this is not helpful to our country, it is not helpful to us.
“The better both sides begin to think that there is a national interest above the NPP interest and above the NDC we will be sinking our country,” the Asawase MP stated.
Meanwhile, Mr Alhassan Suhuyini has entreated the leadership of the NDC to effectively liaise with the leadership in Parliament and stop acting like “coaches” directing what should be done in the House.
“Party leaders are not chosen to manage Parliament. They are not chosen to be coaches of Parliament. They are chosen to run the party alongside Parliament. So when you have debates in Parliament and the Parliamentarians win that debate, you expect the national organisers and women organiser, Chair and secretary to be massing people up on the street to complement what Parliament is doing.
“But what we have are Executives sitting on the bench coaching Parliament and that will not take us to victory. I say this at the risk of sometimes being ostracized. But our party leaders must begin to wake up and understand that the 2024 election will not be won in Parliament,” he cautioned.
On the other hand, President Akufo-Addo on April 4, 2023, swore into office his five new ministerial appointees approved by Parliament..
Trade Minister KT Hammond and his deputy Dr Stephen Amoah, Bryan Acheampong, the Agric Minister, Chieftaincy Minister Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Dr Mohammed Amin Adams, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Minister of Local Government, Osei Bonsu Amoah took their oath at the ceremony which took place at the Jubilee House.
In his speech, President Akufo-Addo urged the ministers to uphold the interest of Ghanaians as their appointment comes at a critical time in Ghana’s history.
He noted that there is “enough time to make a difference and make a significant contribution to the development of the country.”
