Presidential Staffer, Beatrice Annangfio, is appealing to grassroots members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to remain calm over delays in appointments and employment opportunities.
Speaking on GHToday with Lily Mohammed, she said the government has a full four-year mandate to govern the country and, within that period, employment opportunities will be made available to the grassroots who toiled to secure victory for the party.
“I keep saying that we have a nation to build – a nation where every citizen will be happy. We also have a party, which serves as a vehicle to help us build that nation and remain in power. It is, therefore, important that the fine balance between the nation and the party is not lost on us. There must be a deliberate and calculated effort to ensure that both the state and the party benefit,” she said.
According to her, some people may have their own idiosyncrasies – such as not answering calls – but that should not be seen as a reflection of President Mahama’s character.
“Personally, I respond to every text message and answer every call. Sometimes, you meet someone who says, ‘I called you, you didn’t pick up,’ or ‘I sent you a message,’ only to realise they never actually did. As I sit here speaking to you, I have 42 missed calls,” she explained.
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Ms. Annangfio noted that the pressure that comes with public service can be intense, but it does not mean party members are being ignored.
“If you visit me on an ordinary day in my office, you’ll see people coming in and out constantly. When they leave, they may not call again, but later around 10 p.m., they send text messages, usually just to empathize with me. So I want to plead with my party members to understand that no one is deliberately neglecting them,” she added.
She also emphasized that many people who contributed to the NDC’s campaign are still finding their footing in the new administration, urging members to exercise patience.
“People will always come back. I have worked with many individuals during the campaign, and I cannot close my doors to them because, in the next campaign, I might need to work with them again. Some people just don’t know what to say yet, so we must all be patient,” she said.
Ms. Annangfio reaffirmed her commitment to the party’s grassroots, recalling her own experiences of being overlooked in the past.
“I will always stand with the grassroots. I know what it feels like when your party is in power and you haven’t been recognised – I’ve been there before. Sometimes even your NPP friends tease you. I remember my TESCON friends like Nana B and others back in our KNUST days, they would laugh at me,” she recounted.
She concluded by assuring party members that opportunities would come gradually throughout the government’s term.
“We have a four-year mandate. Some employment opportunities will come now, some next year, others in the second or third year. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that Ghanaians are happy, and that our party members also see a genuine commitment to building and strengthening the party. Together, we will win,” she said.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Benjamin Sackey
