While Wife Serves as Veep Press Secretary
Vice presidential candidate to the Movement For Change founder and leader, has chastised the John Dramani Mahama administration for sidelining certain party members in his view should have been recognized with appointments.
Kwame Owusu Danso, who is also the in-law of veteran journalist Kwasi Pratt, has berated the government for leaving out many stalwarts who worked so hard for the party’s victory.
According to him, these people who contributed immensely through cash, time and at their peril of their lives have “deliberately and internationally” been used and dumped while others who either were not known to be NDC or later joined the campaign trial have now been rewarded.
His comment has meanwhile also ruffled feathers with some accusing the politician and lawyer of double standards.
Critics say, even though KOD may have a point on some of the names he lamented about, he is one of the people who by extension has benefitted from the government
They cited his own wife who is not a known member of the NDC but has been rewarded with appointment.
Ama Pratt as was announced in the early months of the government, serves at the Office of the Vice President, Prof Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, as her Press Secretary.
But contributing to a panel discussion on Pan Africa television and as a host, KOD said he is aware of people who joined the NDC and the 2024 campaign at the last stages but have been rewarded handsomely.
“Anybody who worked quite distinctively to the success of the thing at least….Some people sat on TV and didn’t openly claim they are NDC or support NDC now they have juicy appointments. Some people did not join any demonstration, any campaign. Some people joined the campaign in 2024; six months to the election only those people have been recognized. The point I am making is that you see, sacrifice must be rewarded”.
According to him, Gabriella Tetteh, the younger sister of the Member of Parliament for the Awutu Senya West constituency Gisela Tetteh and also a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Hannah Tetteh, worked harder than most of the people who have been appointed.
He said the NDC regional executive member he is aware spent a lot on the party and campaign recalling she was even involved in an accident, all in her quest to ensure that the party came to power.
“So you have sacrificed, you have gone for a regional position which you discharged with distinction, so you have served the region and still serve the party at the national level.
You have contributed both financially, physically in fact I know at some point you even got accident. I am sure several others were involved in accidents but I am just talking about you. I am not saying that automatically you must be recognized but at least there must be some form of recognition. Again, in terms of education you qualify, in terms of experience you qualify because you served in previous administrations before.”
KOD, mentioned a host of people he expected to be appointed noting in particular, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Builsa North constituency, Timothy Ataboadey Awotiirim, and the deputy Women Organizer of the NDC, Dzifa Tegah.
“Timothy, on many occasions, I have had to give him a lift or support him with some transportation every single time he appears on Pan African TV and he is still doing the work for the party. Let the people know that this thing that we strugged for, there is some reward at the end of the day.”
Stressing on the case of Gabriella Tetteh Owusu Danso said he is shocked that after all the sacrifices, indicating she has been “mafiaed”.
Gabriella Tetteh who was on the Good Morning Africa programme tried to resist the attempt to draw her into the matter.
Even though she did not disagree with what the host said, she pointed out that her contributions still count and that since she is outside of government, she will have the right to straighten it when it is on the wrong path. She rejected the tag that she has been mafiaed.
“When I people hear say you have been mafiaed, you see, when you give yourself to anything, you dedicate your time, energy, resources and finances it is not the responses that thing gives. It is the power in your contribution. So when I hear people go like you have been mafiaed, I have not been mafiaed. I have a stake in the government.
I have a stake in the success of the government. If the government is failing, I am now independent minded enough to call out the government that you are failing because my investment is there”, she said.
KOD, who appears to know privately went on to say that Tetteh was “angry” but did not want to show it on television indicating there are people who may have supported during the campaign who may have waited to see her appointed so that they can leverage on it.
“So, if you are building a party that can stand the test of time, you build the party with people who have demonstrated commitment, unflinching support dare to define support for the progress of the party and yet power is won and most people are relegated to the background deliberately and internationally.
And for me that is a cause for worry because for me what you are telling the university student is that it is not enough that you sacrifice for the party all you need to do is to know one or few people, just join the campaign at latter part of the campaign and because Auntie Rhodaline is close to the president Auntie Rhodaline speak for you”, he said in conclusion.
By Gifty Boateng