Former Minister of Health Alex Segbefia has said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs) who approved the ministerial nominees betrayed the party.
He stated that prior to the voting, all the NDC lawmakers met the party leaders and former President John Dramani Mahama and said they were not going to approve the ministers because President Akufo-Addo failed to listen to calls to cut the size of his government.
But the MPs did otherwise when it came to the secret voting.
Speaking on the Big Issue on TV3 Wednesday, March 29, Mr Segbefia said “In fairness, let me make it clear that it is not all of them, many of them did what was required but for those who didn’t, it is wrong.
“This was one whip that was essential to make a point to the government about the size of the government…our MPs let us down.”
He added “We have a whip system in both parties, if you feel that your independent views are always that must go, go and contest independent candidate, that option is there in our books. You contest on a ticket of a party, it doesn’t take the right of your independence but at the same time you have to look at the generality…if you have a situation where two or three ministers had moved, it was a perfect situation to let the President reshuffle, align ministers or give people different duties without trying to replace them because everybody has bee saying the size of government is too big.
“For everybody to be screaming about it especially us in opposition and we come out to vote this way, it wasn’t even close. With the Speaker’s election we got it through the skin of our teeth, one vote, but this one, 30 or 40 MPs who met with the leadership of the party, former President of the party, for me it was a complete betrayal.”
The NDC MPs received flak from its members and other Ghanaians after it turn out that a good number of them voted in approval of the nominees
For instance, Former National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC) Bernard Mornah has said the MPs put up a disastrous performance in Parliament.
He said the opposition lawmakers did not only betray their supporters, but they also destroyed the hopes of many Ghanaians.
Speaking on the Big Issue on TV3 Tuesday, March 28, he said “They have a herculean task going forward from the disastrous performance that their MPs showed in Parliament. I think that they did not only betray the NDC but they inflated the hopes of many Ghanaians.
“If NDC decided that they were going to support the approval of these Ministers nobody would have raised an eyebrow but you gave the impression that you were united behind the opposition of the Ministers and then when you lifted people’s hopes, and dampen their hopes. It is a problem.”
The NDC condemned the decision by some of its members of Parliament (MPs) to throw principle to the wind and pursue their parochial interest by voting for the six ministerial nominees of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.The party said the action of these renegade MPs only betrays the express will of the NDC and “constitutes a massive stab in the back of the good people of Ghana”.
The party said members, particularly leadership of the Caucus, who stayed true to the principles of the party must be highly commended.
“We will stop at nothing to identify them and publicly laud them in due course,” said a statement issued by the General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.
The Speaker, Alban Bagbin after the ballot on Friday March 24 said “Honourable Members, at long last collation of votes has ended. Of the register of 275 eligible voters, 3 voters were absent so 272 did exercise their franchise. The results of the voting are as follows; Honorable KT Hammond 154 Yes, 116 Nos, rejected 1, Bryan Acheampong, 167 Yes, 98 Nos, rejected 4, abstention 3. Stephen Asamoah Boateng 147 Yes, 122 Nos, 3 abstentions. Mohammed Amin Adams 152 Yes, 117 Nos, rejected 1, abstentions 2. Osei Bonsu Amoah 149 Yes, 120 Nos, abstentions 3, Stephen Amoah 146 yes, 123 nos, 3 absentions.”
“The House has accordingly approved the nominations of the following persons as ministers and a deputy minister in accordance with 79(1) of the constitution.”
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana