The birth of 'family and friends government' began with the NDC - John Boadu

General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) John Boadu has advised the opposition NDC to remove the log from their eye before attempting to go for the speck from that of the incumbent.

Addressing the media at a press conference held at the party headquarters, John Boadu noted that the practice of appointing family and friends as cabinet members originated from the tenure of the NDC administration.

Listing a number of appointees who benefitted during the periods of Presidents under the NDC regime, he urged the opposition party to ‘shy’ away from starting such conversations since they are the biggest culprits

“The NDC really ought to take my advice and shy away from talks about family and friends.

What is more family and friends than having Betty-Mould Iddrisu who was the wife of Mahama Iddrisu (a leading light of the NDC) be Minister of Education and Attorney General and Minister of Justice at the same time her brother Alex Mould was Chief Executive Officer for the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC). Clearly two family members in very commanding heights of the governance structure. It is hard to imagine a situation more fraught with the potential for conflict."

John Boadu maintained that members of the NDC have no moral right to criticize the government and accuse them of something which was very glaring during their administration.

“Again Hannah Serwaa Tetteh was Foreign Minister; Gabriella Tetteh was serving under the Office of the Vice President; and Gizella Tetteh was Board Member, Ghana Airports Authority. Same family: sisters from the same father.

John Mahama close friend and Lawyer Tony Lithur was Board Chairman, Ghana Airports Authority his wife Nana Oye Lithur was Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

There are many, many examples of this NDC tendency to keep the wealth in the family, but let me end here on this particular strand. If we have the occasion to discuss this matter again, we will certainly reveal more of these linkages that the NDC now deems to be pernicious.” He added

The Akufo-Addo administration has been labelled a ‘family and friends’ government by members of the opposition party; accusing the President of appointing his family members as well as party financiers into positions they do not deserve.