NDC reasserts its position on the need for Akufo Addo to downsize gov't

The position was to force President Akufo-Addo to significantly reduce the size of his government.

After a vote of confidence in parliament on Friday, March 24 which saw the approval of six new ministers, some NDC MPs turned back on their previous rank to pass all new leaders.

On the back of this new notice, the NDC has in a statement signed by the General Secretary of the party Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey reasserted its position on the need for the government to cut down its ministers.

Read the full letter below:

PRESS STATEMENT

For Immediate Release:

25th March 2023

NDC REAFFIRMS ITS POSITION ON THE NEED FOR THE PRESIDENT TO DOWNSIZE HIS GOVERNMENT IN THE WAKE OF PARLIAMENT'S APPROVAL OF NEW MINISTERIAL NOMINEES.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken notice of the outcome of a vote on new Ministerial nominees on the floor of Parliament, yesterday, 24th March 2023.

Ghanaians would recall that the party issued a directive to the Minority Caucus in Parliament to reject the new Ministerial nominees a few weeks ago. This was in alignment with the pervasive view of Ghanaians 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 by downsizing its government among other things.

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.

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 the 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.

It must be noted that the National Democratic Congress as a body corporate, has multiple structures, represented by elected and appointed officers who are expected to act in the supreme interest of suffering Ghanaians, particularly the over six (6) million supporters of the party. The party as a corporate entity, therefore, bears no liability for the deviant action of the few self-seeking Members of Parliament who betrayed the collective cause of the party and the nation.

Undoubtedly, our country currently faces the biggest economic meltdown in living memory. It is therefore unpardonable for any person, not to talk of a Member of Parliament who believes in the ideals of the NDC, as lending support to the ongoing recklessness of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government.

The NDC shall continue to hold the government accountable for the socio-economic quandary that our country finds itself in and present our superior alternatives to Ghanaians in our bid to rescue the soul of our nation.

We are not oblivious to the fact that the road to rescue will at a point become rough, howbeit such obstacles only strengthen our resolve to achieve the rescue mission. We shall leave no stone unturned in our quest to bring our dear nation out of our present economic doldrums.

Signed.

Comrade Fifi Fiavi Kwetey

General Secretary

Meanwhile, Ex-president John Mahama is earlier appalled by how some NDC MPs voted for President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees despite a contrary directive by the party.

He lashed out at members responsible for the betrayal to do some serious soul-searching and learn to place the national interest over personal interest.