The 2024 presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah, has stated that his party is not expecting President John Dramani Mahama to appoint its members into his government.
He said this while contributing to a discussion on Accra-based Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, January 21.
Mr. Mornah made clear that the PNC’s support for the then opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2024 elections does not place any obligation on the president to offer PNC members positions in his administration.
“Indeed, the point is for John Mahama to determine whether he wants to appoint somebody from the PNC, the NPP, or any other place. Failing to do that, it is his burden to carry,” he said.
“The PNC remains a resolute political party. We have a duty to critique and to support government policies and programs where the need arises, and so we will continue to play our role,” added the former presidential nominee.
Mr. Mornah also stressed his party’s history of serving in past administrations, including Mr. Mahama’s first term in government.
“It is not the first time a PNC member has been in government. Under President John Kufuor, PNC members served in his government; under President John Atta Mills, PNC members served; in fact, in the first term of President John Mahama, PNC members served in his government,” he noted.
He emphasized that their decision to support the NDC in the 2024 elections was a deliberate move to bring about change but did not imply any compulsion on the part of the NDC to appoint PNC members.
“Obviously, the PNC took a solid decision to back the NDC to ensure that we were able to get change. But that is not to say that the NDC is under compulsion to appoint us,” he said.
This clarification comes after President Mahama released his third batch of ministerial appointments, bringing the total to 42 so far.
Meanwhile, the President, who has scrapped seven ministries since assuming office, has pledged to appoint only 60 ministers as part of efforts to cut down on government expenditure.