National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, insists the party’s campaign promise of reducing ministerial appointments to just 60 has denied potential appointees jobs now that the party is in power.
He stated that the party’s then leader, John Mahama, while in opposition, continuously accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration of appointing huge number of ministers, and promised to reduce the number of ministers to just 60 when he becomes president.
Addressing Ashanti Regional NDC members in Kumasi, Asiedu Nketia said that promise helped the NDC to win power, but it has also prevented President Mahama from appointing ministers exceeding the promised figure, a situation that has denied some qualified NDC members appointments.
The NDC National Chairman stated that the entire party leadership and members supported the then candidate Mahama when he promised to reduce ministerial and other appointments when he becomes president, stressing that they should stop agitating over lack of appointments now.
“The truth is that, President Mahama cannot appoint every qualified NDC member into his government. When he said the NPP had huge ministerial appointments, were we not the same people who told him to reduce it to 60 ministers when we win political power?
“We are the same people who told him to reduce the number to 60 ministers when we win political power. If you had said he should appoint 1,000 ministers at the time, he could have appointed 1,000 ministers now, which could have led to your appointments into government.
“Why didn’t you say that he should appoint 1,000 ministers when we win political power then? You didn’t say that because you knew that if he had said he will appoint 1,000 ministers, the 2024 victory wouldn’t have been possible. You knew that the 60 ministers promise would ensure our victory,” he pointed out.
According to Mr. Nketia, even the opposition NPP has realised that the NDC is suffering over their campaign promise of reducing the size of government, saying, “the NPP are mocking us that outside gentility, home cry. We are being hailed outside for being a good government, but our members are worried because of lack of appointments.”
Beaming with broad smiles even as he addressed the NDC members, Asiedu Nketia said President Mahama is fulfilling his campaign promise of reducing the size of government to protect the national purse, adding that the NDC members should stop agitating over lack of appointments and rather support the President to deliver.
The NDC National Chairman urged the party members not to give up hope and rather continue to work for the party to remain in government, noting that “If the government continue to perform well as it’s doing now, we shall prolong our stay in political office for other qualified members to also be appointed into government.”
According to him, if the NDC members continue to agitate over lack of appointments, it may eventually lead to the collapse of the government, which may send the NDC back into opposition, warning, “If we are in opposition, it’s not Bawumia or Kennedy Agyapong who will appoint you as a minister.”
Asiedu Nketia therefore urged the NDC members not to take their party matters into the public domain, warning that such weird acts would give the NPP ammunition to fire at the NDC, saying, “I’m pleading with you, let’s not wash our dirty linen outside. The NPP are best at mocking people. They will mock you if you continue to take our issues to the public.”
Press1News
