Flak at Mahama's 'boys' prejudicial - Kwakye Ofosu

Criticism that former President John Dramani Mahama’s appointment of “young and inexperienced” people in his government led to the National Democratic Congress’ defeat in 2016 polls is not based on facts, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, former Deputy Minister of Communications, has said.

Many factors have been attributed to the defeat of the NDC, among which have included assertions that Mr Mahama appointed arrogant, young, and inexperienced people to run his government. Joseph Bipoba Naabu, NDC Member of Parliament for Yunyoo, is one of such critics to have aired such opinion.

In an interview with Class News’ parliamentary correspondent Ekow Annan in March, the lawmaker, sharing his views for the NDC’s loss, remarked: “Take Omane Boamah for instance. What experience has he got in politics? If he goes to contest elections in the constituency where he comes from, can he win that election? But the former President was listening to such people and that is the problem with him. Those who were surrounding him were not telling him the truth.”

“Most of the ministers that were appointed under NDC were young boys who had not been able to even settle down well. Some of them just came from school and they couldn’t rent a chamber and hall by themselves, they could not buy even a bicycle, but when they were made Deputy Ministers and Ministers, within a year or two they were riding in posh cars. But they had no experience and that affected us.”

However, Mr Ofosu, speaking with Moro Awudu on the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Class91.3FM on Thursday 13 April, said the assertion was borne out of prejudice because it was incorrect Mr Mahama’s government was made up mostly of young people.

“We all know that criticism about young people is based more on prejudice than fact. The notion that President Mahama’s government was filled with young people in itself is even incorrect because you can take a look at the list of members in that government and only a tiny fraction will fall within that age fraction that can be described as young,” he stated.

“The second point is that it is not a novelty. There are many people who today consider themselves as belonging to the older generation who started politics perhaps at an age younger than some of us who they intend to criticise. So if you examine the issues carefully, you’ll find out it is based on prejudice more than anything else.”