Some activists of the governing New Patriotic Party have been appealing to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to consider appointing more of the youth in his second-term administration.
Many activists of the NPP, through social media, have been drawing the President’s attention to the fact that several of his “class mates” from the Kufuor administration also had the opportunity to serve in first-term administration either as Ministers of State, Board Chairpersons, or Chief Executive Officers.
They believe the time has therefore come for the President to say ‘goodbye’ to the oldies, and give the youth the opportunity to help grow the NPP.
Concerns
One Tete Nokobi took to his Facebook to express this concern: “What legacy does the old man want to leave in the party? That he cared less about growth opportunities for the youth? If up to now someone like Kyeremanten, Kan Dapaa, Ambrose Dery, Kofi Ghana, KK Sarpong et al cannot boast of replacements for their roles then that’s a failure for the party”.
Matin Sadick Jnr also commented: “They shouldn’t just give way, they should resign from ever accepting appointments and get a seat at the party’s council of elders auditorium and help shape the party for better!”
Also commenting on Facebook, Thermo De Kardinal stressed: “It is long overdue, these old men continue to disappoint us…let’s give the youth more opportunities and we will certainly do much better….Time to retire the old.”
One activist of the party, P.K. Sarpong, in an article titled “Mr. President, let the tired limbs rest,” said that the NPP’s coming into office in the year 2001 saw the appointment of men and women who steered the affairs of the country under the Kufuor administration in various capacities.
In 2008, the NPP exited office as the NDC took over the reins of power for eight years, and returned to office upon winning the 2016 elections.
He wrote: “Though many Ghanaians believed at the time that the old guards had served the country for eight solid years and had to be made to sit outside for new people to be brought in, the President went ahead to appoint many of the people who worked with President John Agyekum Kufuor to man some ministries and other state agencies.
“President Akufo-Addo, for good reasons, worked with them for four more years. We are in 2021, another four-year term has begun and these old appointees are still lurking around the corridors of power?”
Morale down
He described the development as very demoralizing to the youth of the party.
“Mr President should do away with these old guards by appointing new but youthful men and women into these positions. It is time new energies, ideas and philosophies were injected into this administration by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as that is the only way the youth who have gone through the mill would have not only the opportunity to exhibit their innate talents and experiences but also serve as motivational emblems for their peers,” the article read in part.
With President Akufo-Addo yet to appoint Deputy Ministers, Board Chairpersons and Members, Chief Executive Officers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, it remains to be seen if the increasing appeal by NPP activists will be heeded to by the man many describe as a “listening President.”
Source: dailystatesman.com.gh
About The Author
