We Are Sorry; Ablakwa After Approval Of Ministerial Nominees
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has apologised to Ghanaians for what has been described as “betrayal” on the part of some minority members in Parliament in approving six nominees to occupy various Ministerial positions.
The executives of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) earlier directed its MPs not to approve the nominees of the President as a protest to President’s large government size.
After vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament, the Minority took an entrenched position in approving them at that level and called for a secret vote at the plenary.
On Friday, March 24 when the vote was cast secretly, the nominees got approved with the help of some Minority MPs.
In all, 272 MPs voted following the absence of two on the Majority side leaving 135 members for the Majority.
At end of the ballot, KT Hammond (Minister for Trade and Industry) garnered 154 votes; Dr Stephen Amoah (Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry) 146; Dr Amin Adam (Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance) 152; Mr Asamoah Boateng (Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs) 147 votes; Dr Brian Acheampong (Minister for Food and Agriculture) 167; and Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah (Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development) 149.
This has been described as a betrayal of the people of Ghana.
In a statement on Facebook, Ablakwa admitted that Ghanaians deserved an apology from the Minority.
“We are deeply sorry”, he stated.
“As heart-wrenching as this episode has been, we fervently pray that the good people of Ghana and our loyal party members would not give up on us. Please find a place in your hearts to forgive us; and watch us work extra hard like never before, and with the purest of integrity as we seek to regain your trust and save our dear country, particularly in this period of self-inflicted economic crisis.”
He is of the strong opinion that the development will drain the trust of Ghanaians in them and affect the NDC’s chances of gaining power in the 2024 elections.
“If we cannot be trusted in opposition when crumbs are at stake, how do we expect the Ghanaian people to send us into government where we shall be entrusted with all of Ghana’s resources? If privileged party elites conduct themselves in this manner at the top, what are we inviting our party agents at the branches to do on December 7, 2024, when they are tempted?”
“The damage these Judases and Esaus have done to our party’s brand and public trust in our caucus may take decades to repair”, h said.
My reflections on the conduct of the traitors in Parliament. pic.twitter.com/FroAlhD0CI
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) March 26, 2023
Meanwhile, the NDC, former President John Dramani Mahama and some Ghanaians have condemned the action of the Minority.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
