NPP members turned meeting with Akufo-Addo into an ‘employment agency’ – John Boadu

General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party John Boadu has revealed President Nana Akufo-Addo’s weekly meeting with members and executives of the party in Accra was stopped because it became “an employment agency”.

The President on assumption of office in January last year announced he will spend two hours at the party headquarters every Monday to touch base with the party members and executives to hear their ideas and concerns about his government with the view to addressing them.

The first of such meeting came off on January 23, 2017 in Accra but the President was forced to cancel such meetings after the fourth one.

Mr Boadu explained the decision to end such Monday meetings was due to the level of lobbying at the time by people to get appointment in the government, which was then being formed.

“It was at that time that ministers were being put together, boards were put together, chief executives and all that so his noble idea of making sure that he gets in touch with party people, listen to party people, was turned to an employment agency; it was virtually turned to that,” Mr. Boadu revealed on TV3 New Day magazine show.

He said the President “came for about three [to] four times” and cancelled such meetings because “he felt that he needed to finish all the appointment”.

Mr. Boadu rejected assertion that the government was under pressure, and explained “any opportunity to meet the president at that time will enable you push your point”.

Asked whether Nana Akufo-Addo should resume such meetings, the General Secretary replied affirmatively and indicated he has even reminded the President about the need to resume such meetings.

However, Mr. Boadu argued that the President meeting the people at the party headquarters will mean he will only be meet those in Accra, hence has adopted a new approach where he rather goes to the Regions.

“He [the President] has made it a point that almost every month he goes to a particular region. He just finished the three northern regions; he did that of the Western Region,” he said.

The President “by coming to the party office every Monday, will more or less be meeting only Accra people or get people from outside to travel long distances to be able to meet you” he said.

It is in that respect he said the President adopted “a new method by going down to meet the people on the ground”, noting Nana Akufo-Addo always make sure to meet the party executives and members whenever he goes to the regions.