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Many of us from Bole hometown of former President John Dramani Mahama (JDM) are keenly monitoring the current debate on nepotism especially after the list of President Nana Akufo- Addo’s family members in his government was published. We have noticed the cacophony of arguments from many NDC leading members that former President Mahama appointed only one relative of his as a Deputy Minister when he was President.
Indeed many NDC leading members have consistently made this argument to buttress the fact that former President John Dramani Mahama did not practiced nepotism by stuffing his government with family members.
But do NDC members know that one of the biggest problems former President John Dramani faced at his Bole back yard was his inability to appoint even one person from his home town of Bole into his government? It is noteworthy that JDM is the first President of the 4th Republic who did not appoint the MP (Alhaji Joseph Akati Saaka) of his constituency as a Minister or Deputy Minister of his government.
Yes Bole people have said JDM’s inability to appoint even one person from Bole into his government means he does not have his people at heart and only used them to propel himself into a high political office.
Those who are more mischievous have gone to the extent of making an argument that though Mrs Joyce- Bawah Mogtari’s family ties with former President JDM from her mother side at Bole is not in doubt, she is from Kpembe in East Gonja because the father is from Kpembe.
The mother of Mrs Joyce- Bawa popularly called Miss Siata at Bole was a favourite sister (cousin) of Mr E.A. Mahama (John Dramani Mahama’s father).
Arguments have been made by those who have tried to work on the emotions of Bole people that Gonja is a patrilineal society and so Mrs Joyce- Bawa’s appointment was not for Bole. These arguments from the mischievous ones are always made to put JDM in bad light and to incite the people of Bole against his come back.
Anyway I am making these points to advance an argument that former President JDM should not make a mistake of not appointing anyone from Bole into his next government simply because he doesn’t believe in nepotism. That will reinforce the arguments by some people in the Bole community that JDM cares less about Bole and that is the reason for not appointing anyone from Bole into his government.
It has taken some of us a lot of talking to convince some people in Bole that JDM has Bole at heart but do not believe in nepotism. We keep assuring the people that JDM will surely appoint some people from Bole into his government and that they should continue to have confidence in him.
I forsee a massive protest against JDM if he fails (once again) to appoint anyone from his hometown of Bole into his government simply because Bole people are related to him (almost every native of Bole has a family relation with JDM in one way or the other).
The truth is there are dozens of people from Bole who have worked so hard for NDC and JDM at Bole. I know of one man (name withheld) who ensured NPP got only two votes out about 400 in one particular community.
Some of these people working for JDM and NDC are more than qualified and can play roles in the next governement of JDM.
Bole has many NDC leading members and personalities who have the experience and are qualified to be part of John Dramani Mahama’s next government. We have the likes of Alhaji Gibert Seidu Iddi (former SADA Boss); Hajia Zanabu Mahama (former NDC National Women’s Organiser); Tingawura Sampson Seidu Abudu; Alhaji Sulemana Yussif (MP for Bole- Bamboi) and dozens of well educated and experienced young sharks in the NDC from Bole.
The current debate should therefore not be used to debar anyone from Bole or any family member of JDM from being part of his next government.
10th November, 2019.
By Mahama Haruna
