The Editor of the Informer newspaper, Andy Kankam, has decried the relationship that currently exists between the national executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the minority Members of Parliament (MPs).
He blamed the national executives of the NDC specifically the National Chairman, Asiedu Nketia and General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey of treating the minority MPs with disrespect.
Making his point on Movement TV’s ‘B3 Kyere Mu‘show, Andy Kankam stated that the two NDC national executives are following a “draconian” pattern aimed at intimidating their MPs but was quick to add that it isn’t working.
Andy Kankam singled out Fifi Kwetey and advised him to engage the MPs rather issuing letters to give them directives.
“You Fifi Kwetey the General Secretary for the party you just left parliament, you were there; what was the practice? Can’t you just engage this people? As Ketu South former MP you just left parliament…so engage them but you feel you can be so draconian and want to play to the gallery by just issuing letters. You go and sit at parliament thinking you can intimidate them”, he said.
Prior to the voting, the ,minority MPs under the instructions of the leadership of the Chairman and General Secretary of the NDC, had given their reasons that the government of President Akufo-Addo was overcrowded and that there was the need to downsize his government instead.
Arguments from the debates on the approval of the nominees, plus some two other appointees for the Supreme Court of Ghana, had all indicated that the Minority were going to reject the nominees.
However, in the evening of Friday, March 24, when the House held a secret vote on the matter, all the results came out in favour of the nominees, as all of them were confirmed.
How the MPs voted
Total eligible 275
Absentees = 3
Total valid votes = 272
KT Hammond, Minister for Trade and Industry
Yes=154
No=116
Rejected=1
Abstention=1
Bryan Acheampong, Minister for Food and Agriculture
Yes=167
No=98
Rejected=1
Abstention=3
Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs
Yes=147
No=122
Abstention=3
Mohammed Amin, Minister of State at the Presidency
Yes=152
No=117
Rejected=1
Abstentions=2
Osei Bonsu Amoah, Minister of Local Government and Decentralization
Yes=149
No=120
Abstentions=2
Stephen Amoah, deputy minister of Trade and Industry
Yes=146
No=123
Abstentions=3