“Resign to campaign”: President Akufo-Addo warns ambitious ministers

President Akufo-Addo on Friday gave his clearest warning yet to ministers in his government aspiring to succeed him to “focus on the job“” he has given them, “or quit now to pursue” their “presidential ambitions”.

This warning was a last item of business after a cabinet meeting ended late on Friday night and was followed by a political debriefing.

There is growing anxiety within the government and the ruling party over the campaign activities of a small number of government ministers who are aspiring to get the nod to become the New Patriotic Party’s presidential candidate for 2024, even though the election is still three years away.

President Akufo-Addo reminded aspirants in his government that not even the 17 NPP candidates who contested for the 2008 presidential slot, including 13 who were members of the government in 2005, were seen to be campaigning actively in the first year of the second government led by John Agyekum Kufuor.

The president criticised premature moves by the handful of hopefuls in his government, saying it is effectively selfish and irresponsible for aspirants to allow their ambition to get in the way of their ministerial duties within the first year of a sitting president’s second and final term.

Blunt warning

The warning by President Akufo-Addo came a day after the steering committee of the NPP met at the party headquarters to discuss the matter, among other pressing issues, as the party embarks on a series of internal elections for party executives from the constituency to regional to national level.

Outlining what is expected of every member of an Akufo-Addo government, the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, read the riot act to ministers at the Friday meeting. This was followed by a spirited, no-mincing-words warning from the president that he will sack any minister who defies his orders.

Cabinet was moved from Thursday to Friday because of the funeral of the late statesman and leading architect of both the Provisional National Defence Council and National Democratic Congress, Captain (rtd) Kojo Tsikata.

Earlier at the Thursday-night meeting of the NPP steering committee, the appearance of billboards for aspiring candidates across the country was also roundly condemned as “vulgar”. Committee members said the advertising gave a wrong and loud impression of misplaced priorities.

Wilberforce Asare

Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
99.5 in Accra, 90.7 in Ho, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 89.5 in Tarkwa, and 106.9 in Walewale
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand