Dr. Edward Mahama, who led the PNC into five different elections, was on Monday sworn in as Ambassador-at-Large by President Akufo-Addo, together with other ambassadors.

But the PNC’s Chairman, Bernard Mornah, said Dr. Mahama should have rejected the position because he turned down similar positions in the past, and also went ahead to suspend PNC members who took up appointments in other governments.

[contextly_sidebar id=”nFtOxepMw8fmiUk2RrhRfe1R92upCthv”]According to Mornah, Dr. Mahama suspended Mallam Issah and Ambrose Dery as well as others who were given positions in the NDC and NPP governments.

However, Dr. Mahama in a Citi News interview refuted the claims.

“He [Bernard Mornah] is speaking out of ignorance, malice or outright lies. In fact I proposed Ambrose Dery to go into the NPP government. Moses Daniba served under the NPP government; I never chaired a meeting to expel any of them so what he is saying are outright lies.”

“What I did not do in 2000 was that I would not serve as a vice president unless it was a party to party agreement. A vice president is serving under a particular manifesto that the candidate puts up in the year he is elected, ambassador is ambassador for Ghana, there is a difference,” he added.

I’m going to serve Ghana not NPP

Dr. Mahama explained that, he took up the position because that is his own way of serving Ghana.

“We practice democracy even in the PNC and people are entitled to their opinions about this issue. But I know quite clearly that if I had declined those submissions, those who said I should have declined would say that I only want to be president.  I am quite clear in my conscience that he has appointed me ambassador of Ghana not of the PNC or the NPP.”

“I am taking this position because the president thinks that there are specific things he wants me to do…whenever he asks me to do I will do it to the glory of God and the president. Anybody who said I shouldn’t do anything for Ghana because my party is not in power I don’t agree with them,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post I didn’t sack anyone for accepting NDC, NPP jobs – Dr. Mahama appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“We practice democracy even in the PNC; and people are entitled to their opinions about this issue. But I know quite clearly that if I had declined those submissions, those who said I should have declined would say that I only want to be president.  I am quite clear in my conscience that he has appointed me ambassador of Ghana not of the PNC or the NPP.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”kuKVlIAmDo7sOmBTN9u1VRY5EySpsS6o”]“I am taking this position because the president thinks that there are specific things he wants me to do…whenever he asks me to do I will do it to the glory of God and the president. Anybody who said I shouldn’t do anything for Ghana because my party is not in power I don’t agree with them,” he added in a Citi News interview on Tuesday.

Dr. Mahama had been criticized by some members of the PNC including his own Chairman, Bernard Mornah, who insisted that he [Mahama] should have declined the position offered him by President Nana Akufo-Addo as a matter of principle.

The five-time flagbearer of the PNC was sworn in on Monday by the President together with 21 others who have been assigned to other countries.

Bernard Mornah argued Dr. Mahama turned down similar aappointments in the past, and also suspended Mallam Issah and Ambrose Dery as well as others who took up appointments in past NDC and NPP governments.

But Dr. Mahama discounted the claims describing them as “outright lies.”

“He [Bernard Mornah] is speaking out of ignorance, malice or outright lies. In fact, I proposed Ambrose Dery to go into the NPP government. Moses Daniba served under the NPP government; I never chaired a meeting to expel any of them so what he is saying are outright lies.”

“What I did not do in 2000 was that I would not serve as a vice president unless it was a party to party agreement. A vice president is serving under a particular manifesto that the candidate puts up in the year he is elected. Ambassador is ambassador for Ghana, there is a difference.”

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post I’m going to serve Ghana not NPP – Edward Mahama appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Dr. Edward Mahama, who has been five times flagbearer of the PNC, was named Ambassador-at-Large by the President and sworn in on Monday, July 10, 2017.

But the PNC’s Chairman has argued that Dr. Mahama has betrayed his principles following his acceptance of the position.

[contextly_sidebar id=”1IWYIPNUvZfyB8mdbo1xqcLrHlvNp2dS”]According to Mornah, Dr. Mahama suspended other PNC members including Mallam Issah and Ambrose Dery who were given positions in NDC and NPP governments at some point in time.

“Edward Mahama had refused to become vice president of Ghana; he also refused a health Minister position before. He had led and supervised the suspension of party members who did not allow their appointment to come to the party before they were appointed into other positions like Mallam Issah. Even Thomas Atiga, the Ashanti Regional Secretary then who went to support Patricia Agyei’s candidature in the Asowase by-election were all dismissed because Dr. Mahama won’t countenance it. And those other individuals who went their way, he considered that as poaching of our members. And we have been lampooned together including Ambrose Dery among others.”

“And so when I heard that Edward Mahama had gone to accept the position, I said it was not true because Edward Mahama will resort to the party before he can take such a decision only for me to wake up this morning for media houses to be playing his voice saying that he has confirmed. I was left without bones. I said this cannot be true,” he added.

Bernard Mornah told Citi News that the party will soon take a decision on the former Flagbearer which includes possible expulsion in line with precedence.

“I would want to establish the principles of democracy by calling a meeting of the party at which point maybe he will avail himself to tell us what really informed the decision. I think that for his own integrity…maybe he needs to apologise to former President Rawlings, for refusing to serve the nation when he invited him. Maybe he needs to apologise to former President Kufour, for refusing to become vice president and later minister for health because they will not route through the party. And today he has accepted an appointment without recourse to the party. Maybe he needs to apologise to the party and those other individuals who suffered his iron handedness because they will accept positions—Mallam Issah in particular. It will not do him any good because he had crucified others for doing same. It will be better for him in the eyes of all of us,” Mornah added.

I’m going to serve Ghana

Meanwhile, Dr. Edward Mahama has defended his acceptance of the position. He told Citi News he is going to serve Ghana and not any political party.

Edward Mahama does not require PNC approval – Treasurer

The National Treasurer of PNC, Akane Adams has also jumped to the defense of Dr. Mahama insisting that he does not require the approval of the party before he accepts the position.

“The appointing authority is solely the right of the president as enshrined in our able constitution, therefore, who appoints and who is appointed is the requisite and the preserved of the president under any working democracy. This is not different from the appointment of Dr. Edward Mahama as ambassador at large by his Excellency the President,” Akane said in a press statement.

He insisted that this was not the first time a member of the PNC had been given an appointment by a sitting government.

“In the past, former President Kufuor appointed known PNC men such as Moses Daniba and Mallam Issah for the health and sports ministry respectively. Fast forward, President Mills appointed Hon Alhassan Azong as minister for the public sector reforms and a few others from the party into board membership positions. All these appointees in the past did not require any approval from the party to accept their positions because the clear understanding has always been a move to ensure all-inclusiveness which the PNC sees nothing wrong with. The appointment of PNC men such as Dr. Sulley Gariba and Dr. Raymond Atuguba by President Mahama did not also require any approval from the party as it was simply a matter of choice by the appointee to accept and help build our dear country irrespective of the appointing authority. We hereby dispel any submissions within or without that seeks to downplay the essence of this noble appointment made by his excellency the President,” Akane added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Edward Mahama should’ve rejected ‘NPP job’ – Mornah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He was among 21 others who have been appointed to represent Ghana as diplomats in other countries.

They were all sworn in by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday.

An ambassador-at-large is an ambassador with special duties but not appointed to a particular country.

Others who were also part of the 22 sworn in include former Attorney General, Ayikoi Otoo is to represent Ghana in Canada, George Ayisi Boateng; South Africa and Mercy Bampoe Addo for Malta.

Others include Salma Francess Mancell-Egala; Turkey, Paul Oko; Egypt, Kwasi Owusu Yeboa; Togo, Miss Sophia Horner-Sam; Netherlands, Mrs Amerleey Olennu; Denmark, Mrs. Elizabeth Salamtu; Namibia, Gen. Francis Adu-Amanfoh; Mali.

Below is the full list:

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Akufo-Addo makes PNC’s Edward Mahama Ambassador-at-Large appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.