The no-nonsense approach adopted by the General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, clearly shows his resolve to ensure the party does not lose power in the December 7 general elections. 

The party's chief scribe has asserted himself firmly and is running the party's activities to ensure the party breaks the 8-year governance cycle by the two leading political parties, the NPP and NDC. 

He has warned political appointees of the government to step up their game or risk being sanctioned. 

GhanaWeb takes a look at two instances where Justin Frimpong Kodua threatened political appointees within two years. 

In December 2022, he issued a stern warning to underperforming government appointees to up their game or risk being reshuffled. 

He cautioned that the party will not hesitate to make some recommendations to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to reshuffle appointees who have been performing abysmally. 

Justin Frimpong Kodoa charged government appointees to work hard to avoid being reshuffled, adding that the party’s efforts in retaining the seat of government will not be in vain by a few non-performing appointees. 

“The party worked so hard in 2016 for us to win the election; therefore, we will also work hard to win in 2024. But at this point, if a minister, a CEO, or an MMDCE is not committed to the task ahead, just reshuffle or be reshuffled by the party. It is important that we remind ourselves that whichever position we are occupying is not because of our titles, but because the NPP is in power.” The NPP General Secretary made these comments when he addressed the student wing of the party, the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON), in Kumasi. 

Second threat

Then, in a Facebook post on Saturday, August 10, 2024, he once again repeated his threat to the underperforming political appointees to sit up or be shown the exit. 

Justine Finpong Kodua expressed confidence that the NPP will win the elections; hence, any underperforming appointee whose actions undermine this plan will have their support withdrawn. 

“The NPP is not going to give up the mantle of government now, and so all our efforts should be aimed at working to retain it in power, and soon all underperforming ministers, including MMDCEs, would be penciled for a reshuffle by the President,” he warned. 

He hinted that the executives of the party are evaluating and assessing the performances of all government appointees, adding that those who have been performing poorly to the dissatisfaction of the party will be shown the door. 

“The party is doing an evaluation and assessment of all the appointees, and once we are done with that, we shall discuss it with the President for immediate action,” Mr. Kodua said. 

Frimpong Kodua’s comments come after a comprehensive review of the Bono Region, which noted that certain appointees are failing to maintain effective communication and engagement.

"Their feedback from my tour of the Bono Region shows that some appointees have lost touch with their base. Don’t force me to start mentioning names; do the needful,” he said.

KA/EK