NPP-Germany: President Mahama Should Sack Elvis Afriyie Ankrah

The Germany Branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) unreservedly condemn in the strongest terms the reckless and irresponsible statements by Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development to the effect that the NPP´s free Senior High School policy would crumble like the Melcom Building.
We wish to state that we have no problem with the disgraced Deputy Minister expressing his uninformed opinion on the free SHS policy which we reckon has been embraced by a majority of Ghanaians. Like all Ghanaians what we find despicable and disgusting is to liken it to a tragedy that has befallen our nation.
The Melcom disaster is a national tragedy in which twelve Ghanaians have lost their lives and several others have sustained various levels of injuries. At the time of making these reprehensible comments many people remained buried under the rubble while strenuous efforts were under way to rescue them. Indeed the decision by all political leaders including President John Dramani Mahama (JDM), Nana Akuffo-Addo, the NPP Presidential Candidate, and Dr Abu Sakara of the CPP to suspend their campaigns under pines the importance the entire nation attached to this unfortunate incident.
Against this backdrop we find Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah´s comments very disingenuous and insensitive, coming at a time when the entire nation is in a state of shock and mourning. Clearly, the Deputy Minister´s deliberate attempt to score cheap political points at the expense of other peoples´ misfortune is not just crude but it defies all sense of decency and civility. As Ghanaians certain unwritten rules in our culture require of us to demonstrate some respect and reverence for the departed and sympathize with those in grief.
Being a Minister of state, it is expected that Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah would be conversant with some of these Ghanaian cultural practices which unfortunately does not seem to be the case. It should be pointed out that the Deputy Minister´s comments are unethical, unacceptable and an insult to our compatriots who died in the incident as well as their friends and relatives. Considering the mood of the country after the accident, one would have expected the loud-mouthed Deputy Minister to be circumspective in his pronouncements and think before talking. Sadly, under the NDC government there has been too much talking and very little thinking.
In all civilized societies, these misguided and provocative comments constitute enough grounds for immediate dismissal and we would call on President John Dramani Mahama (JDM) to show decisive leadership by sacking this unruly Minister .Indeed Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah who is also the President´s Campaign Coordinator has become an embarrassment to the President and a disgrace to the NDC government
Finally, we are per this statement requesting Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah to render an unqualified apology to the bereaved families and also call on President John Dramani Mahama (JDM) to immediately dismiss the Deputy Minister so as to save the Presidency from further embarrassment and reduce the public anger and apprehension that has been caused.
Signed
Kwaku Anane-Gyinde
Director of Communication
NPP-Germany
Tel. 00 49 152 13481859