Politics of Nepotism: Akufo-Addo dashes his daughters appointment and contracts – Sammy Gymfi  

Political nepotism has become an issue of discussion between the two major political parties in Ghana thus; the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the largest opposition political party National Democratic Congress (NDC). The debate keeps on going where communicators of both parties normally blame each other for running family and friends government.

In responding to issues at Newfile on Joy News sighted by Coverghana.com.gh, the Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sammy Gyamfi has said, president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has dashed his daughters free appointment and contracts without passing through any competitive contest.

According to Sammy Gyamfi, president Akufo-Addo made his own daughter a member of the Creative Arts Council, and also dashed a vast space dedicated for beautiful shop in Terminal 3 built by former President John Dramani Mahama to another daughter of his without any transparent tendering process.

“How did President Akufo-Addo’s daughter get that space? The only reason why president Akufo-Addo’s daughter is the one running that vast space at the beautiful shop is because her father is president, because that space was not given to her through any competitive transparent tendering process.” He expressed worry.

Adding to that, Sammy Gyamfi dared the Ghana Airport Company to challenge him with adduce evidence that president Akufo-Addo’s daughter went through laid down procedures of law before being selected.

The NDC communications officer argued that, former president John Dramani Mahama appointed only Joyce Bawa who has a family relationship with him into government position. “I am saying that apart from Joyce Bawa, president Mahama never appointed any family member or relative of his into any position. If you dispute that, produce evidence and let’s discuss that, he never appointed any person and here that was the issue.” He explained.

With this, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in opposition made series of noise on that and even organized a press conference which was addressed by their policy advisor Mr. Boakye Agyarko. He disclosed that, president Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia also condemned the appointment of just one family relative of former president John Mahama.

According Sammy Gyamfi, President Akufo-Addo who condemned appointment of one family relative of former president John Dramani Mahama in opposition has appointed over 50 family and friends into his government after becoming a president.

“Someone Appointed one relative of yours, the New Patriotic Party address a press conference on that. I mean which was actually addressed by Boakye Agyarko, their policy advisor. The president and his vice all spoke against that just one family relative and you think that 50 is okay, well, granted, that the presidents appoints 6,000 people, how many families are there in Ghana?” He asked.

According to Sammy Gyamfi, there was no position under the NDC called technical advisor to the minister of interior, and body has been appointed by former president Mahama into such office.

“It’s a lie and if you allowed me I was going to address that, it’s a blatant lie he was working under interior under us but he was never the presidential staffer and was not the technical advisor to the minister of interior. Under the NDC, there was no position called the technical advisor to the ministry of interior.” He disagreed.

Also, he stated that, president Akufo-Addo has a voluminous presidential staffers of 998 the Presidential list including Nana Kofi Darkoa, Asante Bediatuo’s father. “He is the government representative on Ghana Bauxite Company, he is the chairman of the GIMPA Council, and did I hear somebody say that is not government, an appointment made by the president?” He uncovered.

Mr. Gyamfi furiously asked, “who is he there representing? he’s representing government, he is an appointee of government answerable to the government so let me proceed systematically, today, we are having people in this country who knows that all around the world, nepotism is frowned upon because of its tendency to creep corruption and favoritism.”

In conclusion, Sammy Gyamfi added that, president Akufo-Addo  gave his baby mama position as an ambassador, his cousin as the finance minister, his cousin as roads and highway minister.

“Is  it okay for his maternal relative to be works as housing minister, it is okay for the wife of his nephew be a board member of GNPC, the brother of that same wife we are talking about to be board chairman of BOOST, among many. Is Ghana for them? Are they the only qualified people in the NPP? Are thet the only qualified people in this county?” He questioned.

Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel.