Opposition political parties are condemning comments made by two leading members of the governing NPP over their comments suggesting government appointees must give job preferences to party supporters.

Youth Organiser, Sammy Awuku, and Acting General Secretary, John Boadu, said NPP supporters should be favoured during recruitments and award of contracts.

The two are convinced that those who did not believe in the party’s manifesto during the campaign period will not be able to help achieve government objectives and must be overlooked.

John Boadu speaking to Joy News at the 2017 NPP Greater Accra Regional Delegates Conference held at the Trade Fair Centre on Sunday said when President kept trumpeting Free senior high school (SHS) policy, some did not believe his vision.

He does not, therefore, see the reason why now that the policy is at the fruition stage any other person should be considered apart from the NPP supporter or contractor to cook food for SHS students who will be given one hot meal a day.

Also, the Northern Regional Director of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) at an annual delegates’ conference of the Tamale Central Constituency in the Northern Region assured NPP supporters that they will be the first to be considered in the YEA programme in the region before any other qualified Ghanaian.

Sule Salifu said for him as a Regional Secretary of the party representing his party in the YEA, it is non-negotiable that he must satisfy his party members first before considering other Ghanaians.

“I have the responsibility, first of all, to settle my party first. I am going to see that only NPP people will get job first before any other person. That one cannot be negotiated.

“As a party secretary, I must do everything to let Nana Akufo-Addo be firm on the ground. The wish and policies of the NPP manifesto must be implemented to favour party people,” Mr Salifu said.

These comments have received widespread public condemnation.

Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) Dr Emmanuel Akwettey says the posture of the two leading members is at variance with the vision of President Nana Akufo-Addo.

He adds that sympathizers of the NPP do not pay more tax than other qualified Ghanaians.

“You cannot discriminate whether on the basis of creed, religion, ethnicity or whatever and the party’s have been doing this and we have left them off the hook.

“Maybe it is because in Ghana we don’t want to think through things and find solutions. Fundamentally it is wrong" he noted.

He said the party is in power and must use public resources to bring relief to the greater majority of the people irrespective of their party affiliation.

The National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah, and Communications Director of the Conventions People’s Party (CPP), Rauf Kadiri, said such statements set the grounds for discrimination.

They urged the President to call his senior party members to order.

However, speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnite programme, Sammy Awuku defended his statement saying as party executives they have to fight for the interest of their party and its supporters at all times.

Dismissing claims by Mornah that under Akufo-Addo appointments are only given based on party cards, Awuku said the PNC flag bearer in the 2016 election, Dr Edward Mahama, would not have been appointed Ambassador at large by Akufo-Addo if the claims by Mornah were true.

“Nana Akufo-Addo did not ask him to revoke his membership, before taking the role of Ambassador at Large" he stated.

He added that it is important that as party executives they help lobby for their supporters and foot soldiers to get jobs when their party is in government.