A Political Scientist, Dr. Osei Owusu Bonsu says the main opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) got it all wrong with its nepotism claim against the Akufo-Addo administration.
He argued that for the NDC to call the situation in the Akufo-Addo government as nepotism would be a misnomer.
“It was useless and a waste of time for the NDC to organize such Press conference besides the inaccurate usage of the word . The question we should ask ourselves is all the Ministers the NDC cited as friends and family of the President, who among them does not deserve the position given to him? None of the appointments is contestable. Besides how safe is Akufo-Addo to field persons whom he has no relation with?
The opposition NDC on Tuesday reiterated their claim of nepotism against President Akufo-Addo, this time, backing it up with names and pictures.
At a press conference Tuesday, the communications director of the NDC Sammy Gyamfi named some 51 individuals who are directly related or close to people around the President and have been appointed to positions in the administration.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, among Akufo-Addo’s uncountable relatives in government, is Nana Asante Bediatuo, his cousin from Kyebi, who serves as his Executive Secretary. Bediatuo is not alone! He is joined in government by his father, Kofi Darko Asante, who chairs the Governing Council of GIMPA, his mother, Mrs Vida Asante, who is the head of the Presidential Household and his brother, Kwesi Kuntu Asante, who sits on the Board of Ghana Hostels. In addition, Nana Asante Bediatuo’s sister, Lauretta Asante (marital name, Otchere), is one of the three Deputy Directors-General at SSNIT who have been appointed by this government.
“Other relatives of President Akufo-Addo who currently occupy various positions in his government include, Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance; Samuel Atta Akyea, Works and Housing Minister; and Kwesi Amoako Atta, Minister of Roads and Highways, all of whom are cousins of the President.
Friends from the media, in an unprecedented move, President Akufo-Addo has made his own daughter, Gyankroma Akufo-Addo, a member of the Creative Arts Council,” the party said.
According to the NDC, the President has deceived Ghanaians with his campaign promise of not running a family and friends and government.
Commenting on the development in an interview on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM, Dr. Osei Owusu Bonsu maintained that he sees nothing wrong with the President placing family, friends and cronies in his government if they’re performing and delivering results for the President.
He said it’s debatable to suggest that the President is likely to shield close relations if they run themselves into trouble whiles in government.
Making reference to Boakye Agyarko’s case, he said who was closer to Nana Addo than Boakye Agyarko in the run-up to the 2016 elections? where is he today? he queried.
“NDC is the alternative government, ff they have no better criticism in opposition, they should save us the drama,” he said.
