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Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, has vowed not to support National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentarians who defied the party’s orders to vote against the approval of new appointees of the government.
Hon Ablakwa, speaking at the Obaasima Campus Tour event at the University of Health and Allied Science in Ho, stated that he will not work with the “treacherous” NDC MPs even if it means he will be suspended from the party.
Mr Ablakwa expressed his disappointment with the NDC parliamentarians who went against the party’s directives, saying that they have made the NDC lose credibility in the eyes of many Ghanaians. He went on to say that he doesn’t believe in treacherous politics and politics without principles, and he won’t support MPs who engage in such activities.
He further explained that the party had instructed its members to hold a press conference to tell the Ghanaian public that they would vote against the president’s appointees. However, after the press conference and public assurances, more than 30 NDC MPs went against the party’s decision and voted for the nominees. This move, according to Ablakwa, undermines the party’s credibility and leaves it open to criticism from the Ghanaian people.
Parliament on Friday, March 24, approved all six ministerial nominees as well as the nominees of the Supreme Court of President Akufo-Addo after a heated debate and tense voting process. However, some Members of Parliament (MPs) of the NDC did not adhere to the decision of the party to vote against the approval of the nominees.
Kobina Tahir Hammond, MP for Adansi Asokwa, was approved as the Minister of Trade and Industry, while Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi, was approved as the Minister of Food and Agriculture. Other nominees who were approved include Stephen Asamoah Boateng, as Ministry of Chieftaincy; Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of State (Ministry of Finance), and Osei Bonsu Amoah, Ministry of Local Government. Stephen Amoah, the MP for Nhyiaeso, was also approved as the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.
The Supreme Court nominees who were approved include George Kingsley Koomson, Justice of the Court of Appeal, and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, Justice of the High Court.
Leading figures in the NDC, including former President John Dramani Mahama, have accused the MPs who broke ranks of betraying NDC supporters and Ghanaians for their selfish interests. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has challenged the said MPs, who were allegedly bribed, according to Cape Coast South MP, Kweku George Ricketts-Hagan, to come out and tell Ghanaians why they voted to approve Akufo-Addo’s nominees.
source: ghstandard.com