‘Why approve the man who caused me such pain?’ Sam George questions Minority MP colleagues
Ningo Prampram MP Samuel Nartey George is the latest lawmaker to vent his spleen on the outcome of the secret balloting in Parliament that saw the approval of the six ministerial nominees.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, March 28, he questioned why his National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority colleagues let him, his constituents and the country down by approving all six of Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees.
Of particular concern to him was the approval of Bryan Acheampong, former Minister of State at the Ministry of National Security, now Minister for Food and Agriculture.
The vociferous former presidential staffer who feels he and his colleagues “has let down and stabbed right in the heart our base and supporters” questioned why the Abetifi MP was approved.
“I have been silent. It is a difficult place to be. I am not one to be silent, it is not in my nature. My silence has been borne out of pain, a type that cuts so deep it leaves you speechless. My pain is twofold – a sense of being let down and a sense of letting down,” he said.
He continued, “I feel let down by the fact that in those hallowed Chambers of Parliament, I hold the unfortunate singular record of being the only victim of Bryan Acheampong’s brutality and machinations at the National Security Ministry. The scars of Ayawaso West Wuogon’s by-election are still very fresh on my mind and even though as a Christian I have told myself to forgive, it is hard to forget.
“How could my colleagues, some of whom marched with me to the Police HQ to demand justice, vote for the man who caused me such pain? Where is the sense of camaraderie? Are we not Comrades in the struggle again? Would I feel safe to leave my drink or food with any of them again? These thoughts have haunted me since Friday. Is this the Caucus I have rushed to defend always in the past? Is it really worth that hustle? See why I have kept quiet?”
Condemnation galore
The NDC has condemned its MPs who voted in favour of the six ministerial appointees to be approved.
The party’s General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey in a statement on Saturday expressed his disappointment in those legislators adding that they placed “their parochial interest ahead of the interest of Ghanaians.”
According to him, the lawmakers who voted to approve the appointees, have betrayed the party since they disregard of the directive to reject the new Ministerial nominees.
Former President John Mahama expressed his disappointment over the outcome of the secret voting on Friday.
In a hard-hitting post on Facebook, he described them as “traitors” and asked them to undertake a serious soul-searching and learn what it means to be nationalistic.
NDC is an endangered specie now?
Adding to the disappointment of the Caucus action on Friday, Sam George is looking for answers for his constituents and Ghanaians.
“…I am part of the Caucus that has let down and stabbed right in the heart our base and supporters. How do I explain this to my constituents? How do I respond to the several calls from the Constituency asking me why? What explanation can I give? What excuse could ever be fitting? A majority of the Caucus may have voted against the nominees but the dent of the few who for whatever considerations voted otherwise is collective.
“We are all an endangered specie now. It is not a thing of pride or prestige at this time to call yourself an NDC MP. How did we sink so low from the heroes and heroines of January 6, 2021? How do we fix this conundrum we find ourselves in? How do we rise together again as one unit as we did the night we elected the Speaker? I am struggling to find answers so you see why I have been quiet?” he said.
The Prampram MP said the Minority Caucus “need to regroup as quickly as possible and have a proper introspection as individuals and as a collective. We owe it to the base and Leadership of our Party. We owe it to our presumptive flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama. We owe it to our own legacies.
“It would demand us being less emotional and more logical and strategic in our thinking and approach going forward. It would be an arduous task to win back the love of our base and the trust of leadership but it is a task we must undertake. We have no options but to dig in deep and make the next 18 months count for our Party.
“Rough the tides may be but ashore we must guide our vessel. God be our guide. Shalom” he concluded.
Source: Ghana News
