By Ernest Addo
People’s National Convention (PNC) flagbearer for the just gone by elections, Dr. Edward Mahama, may be biting his finger tips for accepting an ambassadorial appointment from President Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Part (NPP) government; as his party members are flaking him no end.
Position-holding members of the party have started piling pressure on their flagbearer to either resign from the party or decline the Ambassador-at-large appointment offered him by President Akufo Addo, lest he faces the party’s wrath.
Yesterday, on various radio stations, General Secretary of the PNC, Atik Muhammed, said the party was not informed about the appointment and questioned why the flagbearer would take such an important decision without recourse to the leadership of the party, considering the fact that he [Dr Mahama] in times past referred offers of appointment to the party for consideration.
Chairman of the party, Benard Monah has also expressed grave concern that Dr. Mahama did not consult the party before accepting such an all-important offer from the government which differs with the PNC on ideology and certain policies.
But Dr. Edward Nasigre Mahama has refuted claims by PNC National Chairman, Bernard Mornah that he did not inform the party before accepting an Ambassadorial role saying that, his appointment was not shrouded in secrecy as being speculated by some section of the public.
He cited his running-mate in the 2016 elections and some other key party members whose designation or names he refused to provide as being in the know of his decision to accept the offer.
He continued: “I didn’t call a party structure like the standing committee, NEC or Congress to inform them about this appointment, but some people who needed to know, know the others who do not know will be informed because now that it is confirmed that I got the job, the next thing is to call a standing committee meeting and then inform them what the president has informed them and what they expect me to do and officially let them know. The party will be officially informed in a structured meeting.” he detailed.
He explained that for a person like himself who has contested the Presidential elections on five occasions, the only motive he had to accept such an offer was to serve his country and contribute his quota to its development. Dr Mahama Stated,
The President on Monday swore into office twenty-two ambassadors to represent Ghana in various countries of the world.
Unlike an ambassador-in-residence who is usually limited to a country or embassy, the ambassador-at-large is entrusted to operate in several usually neighboring countries, a region or sometimes hold a seat in an international organization like the United Nations
