Mahama Sharing Ministerial Post In Opposition

Even before he contests the 2024 general elections, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has begun compiling the list of his ministerial nominees.

The former president, in an interesting twist, promised to make the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, from 2025, a minister under his administration, if he wins the by-election.

According to Mr. Mahama, should the ousted MP win today’s by-election and he, Mr. Mahama, becomes the next president, he will make the tormented ex-MP a minister of state, without blinking an eye.

The former president gave the assurance when he spoke to Assin North constituents on Sunday, June 25, 2023, ahead of the by-election slated for today, Tuesday, June 27.

Mr. Mahama was impressed with the contribution of Mr.Quayson to the area in the short period that he was made a lawmaker, though he was an opposition MP.

“He [Gyake Quayson] is humble, God-fearing, and respects everyone. If God helps me to be president, nothing will stop me from appointing him as a minister. Even as an opposition MP, look at what he has been able to do in terms of development from his own pockets. Just imagine what he would do if he becomes a minister,” Mahama added.

But some say, perhaps, the former president was taking a cue from his successor, President Nana Akufo-Addo, who did a similar thing in the past.

President Akufo-Addo, while in opposition, made it clear his intention to appoint the resigned Trade and Industry minister, John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, for that portfolio.

John Mahama is on record to have declared recently that the victory of the NDC in the 2024 elections will start in Assin North.

He said the imminent victory of the party would be a testament to the government’s abysmal economic performance, and urged the people to retain Mr. James Gyakye Quayson as their Member of Parliament to accelerate development.

At a rally to canvass votes for the party at Assin-Bereku, he called on the people not to fall prey to NPP’s promises and vote-buying tricks.

“Our victory in 2024 starts from here and is ordained by God. I’m of a strong belief that God will make NDC victorious in this by-election.

“God has given the authority to you, the people of Assin North, to end the economic impunity and leadership paralysis exhibited by the government,” he stated.

Mr. Mahama said the NDC was unperturbed by the vile political propaganda against Mr. Quayson to reduce the NDC’s minority in parliament, as he could not be jailed when Nana Appiah Mensah, popularly known as NAM 1, the chief executive officer of defunct Menzgold, a gold dealership firm, was walking free.

The Electoral Commission (EC) announced a by-election in Assin North, following the nullification of the 2020 parliamentary election in the area, which was won by the NDC’s Gyakye Quayson, but was nullified by the Supreme Court, which directed that parliament expunged his name from its records.

This was after the apex court found out that Mr.Quayson held dual citizenship before filing to become MP, which is against Ghana’s electoral law.

Source: Anchorghana.com