The National Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) claims former president John Mahama appointed only one relative when he was in power.

Samuel Gyamfi says the only family the flagbearer of the NDC appointed was Joyce Bawah Mogtari, who is currently his spokesperson.

“Apart from Joyce Bawah Mogtari, former president Mahama never appointed any family relative of his into any position,” he told Newsfile host with Samson Lardy Anyenini, Saturday.

“If you dispute that, produce evidence and let us discuss that,” he challenged.

He justified that Madam Bawah Mogtari was appointed to be Deputy Minister of Transport because she had the requisite certificates and not because of her relationship with Mr Mahama.

The NDC led by Sammy Gyamfi on Tuesday presented 51 names of persons that alleges are relatives and cronies within the Akufo-Addo government.

The list included the entire nuclear family of Nana Asante Bediatuo who is a cousin to the President and is also his Executive Secretary.

The opposition further called the enactment of anti-nepotism legislation to check the abuse of power by governments.

Mr Gyamfi further recounted the promise President Akufo-Addo made when he was a presidential aspirant and urged politicians to be principled and consistent.

“It is a fact that on January 16, 2016, the presidential candidate of the NPP then in Kumasi at a National Delegates Conference made a solemn promise to the people of Ghana. That if elected, he will not operate a family and friends government,” he narrated.  

Commenting on the subject, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr, the Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide rubbished NDC’s list.

He described the list of 51 persons as means by the NDC to just push a propagandist agenda.

“Assuming without admitting they are all truly friends and family of the president what is the percentage?” he quizzed.

Mr Baako noted that if the president appoints thousands of personnel to various positions in the country and 51 “that are his family and friends what is the percentage?” of the total number of appointments. He probed further on how many of Akufo-Addo’s friends and family are in key positions like cabinet, ministers, deputy ministers, regional ministers and others.