The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has expressed confidence that he would have been approved through a secret ballot, despite the Minority Caucus’ opposition to his appointment.
According to George, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin was aware that 49 out of 88 Minority members were prepared to vote in his favor.
George revealed that he had challenged Afenyo-Markin to proceed with a secret ballot, but the Minority Leader chose to abstain from voting instead.
“I was 100 percent sure that I would not lose the vote and Afenyo-Markin himself knows and I dared them to take me to a vote [secret ballot]. Of his 88 members, 44 of them would have voted for me and that is why Afenyo-Markin after calling for the vote chose to abstain. He knew they didn’t have his back,” George stated.
He further emphasized that many Minority members disagreed with Afenyo-Markin’s position, saying, “His members told him to his face in my presence, that if he took me to a vote, 49 of his 88 members would have voted against this position because they didn’t see the wisdom in the position that was being taken”.
The Minority Caucus had initially opposed George’s appointment due to his past criticism of former President Akufo-Addo and Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
However, despite their objections, George was ultimately approved through a voice vote by the Second Deputy Speaker.
Reflecting on the events that transpired during his vetting, George expressed a sense of betrayal, stating, “If you have people who call you brother and friend like Mr Afenyo-Markin used to, and this is the kind of friendship and brotherhood, then you don’t need enemies”.
