Stop the practice of Nepotism - Mahama to Gov't

Dr. Edward Mahama, leader of the People's National Convention (PNC) on Thursday advised the government to stop the practice of nepotism in the country to ensure the equitable distribution of the national cake. He said the introduction of nepotism by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government would not only deny some members of the public certain basic amenities but would not foster good governance in the country.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra, Dr Mahama said since the assumption of office of the NPP administration, "it has shown clearly that it works only to satisfy some few individuals within the NPP, forgetting that it owed it a duty to distribute the national cake equitably the very day it was sworn in".

Dr. Mahama said the appointment of Ministers and their deputies and other high-ranking officials to the Cabinet had clearly shown that the NPP was tainted with nepotism and called on the government to do something about it, if it really wanted to run an-all-inclusive government.

He said the recent appointment of Parliamentarians to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, without a PNC member was an indication that the NPP did not recognise the PNC in Parliament.

Dr. Mahama said, "the entire PNC wants to remind government that this country belongs to all of us and the way to maintain national unity is to divide the 'HIPC' national cake equitably". He said the PNC was the third largest party in Parliament and it was expected that one of its members would be selected as a delegate to the ECOWAS Parliament.

NPP has so far shown ingratitude to PNC for supporting it during Presidential runoff by marginalizing it, he said, adding, "PNC has always maintained that our purpose was to unseat the NDC and that aim has been achieved by supporting NPP and that would not stop me from fighting for the distribution of the national cake".He deplored the situation where two delegates to the ECOWAS Parliament came from the same district.

Dr. Mahama criticised President Kufuor for not visiting Bawku and Yendi after the crises there, saying the usual Ghanaian tradition was that when people were bereaved or in crisis, it was for the father of the nation to go there immediately and know what could be done to alleviate their plight.

When the GNA contacted the Ministry of Information and Presidential Affairs on the issues raised by the PNC leader, the Special Assistant, Mr. Ferdinand Ayim said in statement that, " it is amazing that Dr. Mahama, of all people should be accusing the NPP government of nepotism.The statement said, " if there is any administration that would go on record as having demonstrated a genuine commitment to all-inclusiveness in governance of this country, it is that led by President J.A Kufuor."Indeed the NPP government team included a Minister and two Deputy Ministers from the PNC, as well as other political parties."

It said Dr. Mahama "is a very respected politician, credited with a lot of savvy and his remarks are unfortunate and disappointing, to say the least."