According to Mr. Appiah-Kubi, President Mahama has demonstrated great care and diligence in his selection of ministers.

Read also: Ato Forson for Finance Minister, Jinapor for Energy, Dominic Ayine for Attorney General in Mahama’s first ministerial nominations.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Upfront on Thursday, January 9, he commended the President for prioritizing merit in his appointments, noting that this approach is what is expected of every leader.

“I’m very happy that the President has been very careful in selecting his ministers so far. And I want to commend him for prioritizing competence, integrity, and knowledge,” he stated.

His remarks followed President Mahama’s nomination of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as Finance Minister-designate, John Abdulai Jinapor as Energy Minister-designate, and Dominic Akuritinga Ayine as Attorney General and Minister of Justice-designate.

All the nominees once served as deputies in the same portfolios in the previous NDC administration.

Mr. Appiah-Kubi described the nominees as highly qualified individuals, adding that he has no doubt they are the right choices for their respective ministries.

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Speaking on TV3 on Saturday, December 28, the private legal practitioner stated, “The NPP’s constitution is so flawed in selecting leaders in the party. A constitutional review is long overdue.”

His remarks were in response to a press conference held by NPP National Chairman, Stephen Ntim, who acknowledged the party’s defeat to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and announced plans for a post-election review.

“There is no doubt that the outcome of the elections is not what we wished for,” Mr. Ntim said. “The party will set up an election review committee in January 2025 to engage stakeholders and analyse the factors leading to our defeat, paving the way for reforms.”

However, Appiah Kubi argued that the party’s reliance on a monetised system for leadership selection undermines the emergence of the best candidates.

“Monetisation in the NPP will not bring out the best candidates for leadership roles,” he warned.

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Appiah Kubi, a private legal practitioner, stated that the High Court should have allowed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to present its case before making a judgment.

“The Supreme Court did a good job…the High Court ought to have allowed the NDC to make their case,” he said in an interview on TV3 on Saturday, December 28.

He further emphasized, “I commend the Supreme Court for the direction given now. The principle of audi alteram partem, or ‘hear the other side,’ is universal, and even God applied it in the Garden of Eden.”

The Supreme Court has instructed the Accra High Court to reconsider the NDC’s mandamus application concerning four constituencies with disputed results: Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, and Techiman South.

In a unanimous 5-0 decision on Friday, December 27, the Apex Court ruled that the presiding judge in the case should have heard the NDC’s legal representation regarding their application to join the NPP’s mandamus request, as the NDC was an interested party that would be affected by the ruling.

The NDC was challenging a High Court ruling that directed the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-collate parliamentary election results in nine disputed constituencies.

Parliamentary candidates from both the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had filed a writ seeking to compel the EC to conduct fresh elections in these constituencies, citing anomalies in the collation of results and the subsequent declaration of winners.

On Friday, December 20, Presiding Judge Joseph Adu Owusu Agyeman ordered the EC to re-collate the results in the Ablekuma North constituency, despite objections from NDC legal representatives, led by Godwin Edudzi Tameklo. The lawyers argued that the results of these constituencies had already been declared, but the court determined that the anomalies in the process warranted a re-collation.

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He said this move nearly cost him his life.

The outgoing legislator was a leading figure in the #KenMustGo campaign, which called for the resignation of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta amidst Ghana’s economic challenges.

In an interview on JoyNews’ Upfront, Mr Appiah-Kubi revealed that his involvement in the campaign, alongside some 80 New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs, subjected him to “punishment,” including an alleged poisoning incident.

He detailed the ordeal, describing attempts by certain individuals to transfer him from the hospital where he was receiving treatment to Accra, a move his wife vehemently opposed, ensuring his safety.

“My own government had pursued me in diverse ways after our advocacy, and that is for a fact. And, let me put it on record today that even my life, at some point, was in danger and I have suffered some ailment through the period, got treated, was fortunate, and I thank God that I’m still alive.

The MP’s disclosure sheds light on the personal risks and political fallout faced by those who challenge party leadership.

“Some people talk about it in the press, somehow exaggerated, but I suffered pain, I got treated over time, and I got healed by a miracle of God. So, I have a history and I’m very careful now. I got careless just over a short period of time but it won’t happen again because I’m more careful now. But I also thank the American institutions for providing me with some level of security support,” he stated.

He further explained that “there were attempts to lift me out of that hospital and bring me to Accra, but we were warned that I should not use that medium of travel to come to Accra, so, my wife decided that.”

“And at the time, I couldn’t take care of myself because I wasn’t that conscious to take care of myself, but then my wife refused the offer. So, I did not come and so I stayed there for some seven days and somehow, God works miraculously, and I don’t know how I came out.”

Mr Appiah-Kubi stated that his doctor had told him that he had suffered from poisoning adding that he has since been more alert.

“Well, I was told that I had some poisoning… when you attempt to attack people’s integrity, it’s a dangerous enterprise. So, you’d have to be careful, and I’ve always been careful. If you ask my PA, he tells you that I don’t even eat from outside. It was just on the occasion that I did once,” he added.

Mr Appiah Kubi has blamed President Akufo-Addo’s recalcitrant posture for the party’s defeat at the polls.

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Addressing the issue, Mr Afenyo-Markin emphasised the importance of respecting party rules and maintaining decorum in intra-party discourse.

“We should all respect party rules. You cannot go out of your way to describe your colleague in an unacceptable manner. We are in this together. There is no perfect person in this world. Let us be measured in the language we use,” he said.

Mr Afrenyo-Markin’s caution comes after controversial statements by Mr Appiah Kubi, which have stirred internal party tensions.

According to the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim North, the Energy Minister, Dr Opoku Prempeh is not acceptable to the entirety of the NPP base, particularly MPs.

He added that the Energy Minister cannot campaign effectively in many constituencies.

“I would want somebody who would be open with the people on the ground, who would be able to deliver the votes, who would submit to the presidency, and who would be important in bringing Parliament closer to the executive,” he said.

Nonetheless, Mr Afenyo-Markin underscored the need for unity and mutual respect within the party ranks, highlighting that disparaging remarks about fellow party members are counterproductive.

He further reiterated his confidence in the party’s leadership and decision-making processes, particularly in the context of selecting a running mate.

“The flagbearer, Dr Bawumia, has the confidence of the party and I believe he will use the structures of the party in making his decisions,” he affirmed.

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He explained that only a minority, approximately 20%, of passport holders utilise the document for travel purposes, rendering passport acquisition more of a privilege than a necessity.

Addressing reporters in Accra on Wednesday, April 3, Mr Appiah Kubi argued that individuals seeking passports should bear the full cost, considering it a privilege rather than a fundamental right or requirement.

He further emphasised that the government cannot subsidise privileges for passport applicants.

“We agree that it is only about 20% of Ghanaians that need passports to travel out of the country.
And, therefore, looking at it from that context, the passports then become a privilege, not a right or need.

“So, if it is a privilege, who should bear the cost of passports? To be honest with you, within the subregion, passports in Ghana are the cheapest and indeed it is incomparable with anywhere else.”

“The most immediate cost element is from Liberia, and they are charging GH499.50, which is the equivalent of $50 for passports that span for five years…

“Indeed how fair will it be for only 20% of us to surcharge all of us, the 80% for what they want for their purpose of travelling? It is not fair,” he said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has reiterated her call for Ghanaians to exercise restraint in applying for passports unless absolutely necessary.

The former Anyaa-Sowutum MP underscored that passports do not serve as the primary identification document for citizenship in Ghana.

She urged citizens to refrain from unnecessarily burdening themselves with passport applications if they do not have imminent travel arrangements.

Madam Botchwey emphasised that following this guidance would help alleviate the strain on passport production within the country.

“Today as we speak, we have the National Identification that is working very well, so that’s our primary source of identification. No longer the passport.”

“And even those who have the National ID can travel into the country with it. So, then I’m asking humbly Ghanaians that please, if you do not need a passport because you cannot afford it.”

“Please, humbly, I’m asking you not to go for a passport because it’s no longer your primary source of identification.”

The recent hike in passport acquisition fees announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sparked a backlash among Ghanaians.

Under the new pricing structure, a standard 32-page passport will now cost ¢500, up from the previous ¢100, while a 48-page booklet will be priced at ¢644, a significant increase from the previous ¢200.

Additionally, expedited services will incur higher charges, with citizens required to pay 700 cedis for a 32-page booklet and 800 cedis for a 48-page booklet.

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