The Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused the John Mahama government of unjustly terminating appointments and replacing professionals with party loyalists.
“In less than three months in office, all we hear is ‘sack them, sack them, sack them,’” he lamented, whilst contributing to the debate on the 2025 budget in Parliament on Tuesday, March25, 2025.
According to him, the dismissals were targeted at individuals who did not possess National Democratic Congress (NDC) party cards, creating “a Ghana for NDC and a Ghana for others.” He questioned why only one minister had refrained from mass dismissals so far, but noted that it was too early to commend him.
“Since when did employment after December 7 become irregular employments? We have seen how they approach the issue of accountability. We in the minority are not against accountability, but we are against abuse of human rights,” he said.
He cautioned the NDC to make the most of their first term in office, as he believes it will be their only opportunity to govern the country.
“The power you have today is like an ice block. You only have four years. It started melting from December 8, January 8, and it will melt onto the next elections. Utilise the power wisely.”
Budget
The Minority Leader questioned the NDC government’s claim that it inherited an economy in crisis.
He argued that key economic indicators at the time of transition painted a different picture, citing a GDP growth rate of 5.7%, an agricultural sector growing at 2.8%, an industrial sector at 7.3% and a services sector at 5.9%.
“If they have nothing to offer, they should not discredit the NPP administration, “he insisted.
He expressed disappointment that the budget failed to acknowledge the efforts made by the previous government to sustain economic growth, describing it as “an absurd budget” that lacked vision and strategy.
24-Hour Economy Policy
He ridiculed the NDC’s flagship 24-hour economy policy, stating that it had failed to make it into the 2025 Budget, despite earlier assurances from President Mahama that it would be a priority.
“When the President came to this House, he promised us in his State of the Nation Address that the 24-hour economy would find expression in his budget statement. Now, Dr. Ato Forson tells us the policy will come later. So, you lied to Ghanaians!” he fumed.
Free SHS Concerns
The minority leader also raised concerns about the management of the education sector under the NDC government, particularly regarding the Free SHS policy. He questioned why the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) was now overseeing Free SHS instead of the Education Ministry.
“Oh, Haruna Iddrisu, what have they given you? You have been given a portfolio without resources!” he remarked sarcastically, implying that the Minister of Education had been stripped of the authority to oversee key educational policies.
The ‘Big Push’ and Infrastructure Allocation
The Minority Leader scrutinised the NDC’s much-publicised ‘Big Push’ infrastructure agenda, which promised a $10 billion investment in key national projects.
However, he noted that the 2025 Budget only allocated GH¢13 billion (approximately $800 million) to infrastructure, questioning the feasibility of achieving the ambitious target.
“You promised $10 billion, but now in four years, even if we divide this over the period, the figures don’t add up. Even your maths is suspect!” he mocked.
He also criticised the government’s approach to health infrastructure, arguing that instead of completing the NPP’s flagship Agenda 111 hospital projects, the NDC administration had resorted to lamentation.
“The health infrastructure of our country is critical. Instead of allocating resources to complete Agenda 111, you are here lamenting! Lamentation, lamentation, lamentation!” he stressed.
The post Osahen Drops Bombshell: Mahama Is Sacking Professionals … And Replacing Them With Party Loyalists appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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