The Minority in Parliament has levelled a litany accusations against the Akufo-Addo government, saying the new government has proven to be incompetent.
Addressing a rather long press conference Tuesday, Deputy Minority James Klutse Avedzi, said the large number of ministers appointed by the president vitiates from the New Patriotic Party’s mantra “that we have the men.”
President Akufo-Addo has appointed 110 ministers and deputy ministers, constituting the largest government in Ghana’s history.
Some of the ministries have been assigned multiple deputies, courting anger against the government disappointment in the president who won an overwhelming endorsement at the polls last year.
Singling out some ministries, Mr. Avedzi said the number of appointees there defies logic.
He said the Information and Communications Ministries which were merged by President John Mahama with one Minister and two deputies, now have seven ministers.
Mr. Avedzi said what three competent ministers under the John Mahama government did, seven incompetent appointees are required by the Akufo-Addo government to do.
Touching on the Transport Ministry, he said the president inexplicably created three separate ministries – Transport, Aviation and Railways – when there is no evidence of any new projects being initiated by the government.
He catalogued a number of projects – Tema-Akosombo, Takoradi-Paga rail projects, Tema and Takoradi port expansion projects, the introduction of Ayalolo bus service, and expansion of Metro Mass Transit – initiated by the previous government.
Mr. Avedzi maintained all these achievements were attained “with a competent minister and a competent deputy minister.”
The former Chairman of Finance Committee of Parliament was making allusions to the NPP’s campaign and tag incompetence against president Mahama’s presidency.
The NPP’s, especially Dr. Mahamudu’s constant reference to the Mahama government as incompetent irked the then governing NDC greatly.
President Mahama himself on several occasions fended off the expression as uninformed, insisting Dr Bawumia couldn’t call him incompetent because he (Bawumia) did not know what it took to be president.
At Tuesday’s press conference, Mr. James Avedzi, who is also MP for Ketu North, flanked by other Minority MPs, repeatedly questioned the competence the new government in delivering on its promises.
He said the government’s “419 budget” does not mention any new projects to be undertaken by the government in the transport sector, wondering why the sector should have three separate ministries.
“This is yet another bad example of a party that claims to have the men,” he stated.
