Former deputy Finance Minister, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, has said that the opportunity given to him by former President John Mahama to serve in his government was based on his competence as an economist but not because he was a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According Ricketts-Hagan, the chance to serve as a deputy Minister was to serve Ghanaians as he holds allegiance to Ghanaians not the erstwhile President.
“I’m very grateful to Mahama for giving me the opportunity to serve my country. I served my country not Mahama; President Mahama was given an opportunity by Rawlings to serve his country not Rawlings, Atta Mills was given an opportunity to serve his country not to serve Rawlings. Atta Mills also gave the opportunity to Mahama to serve his country not him Mills,” he told Kwame Afrifa-Mensah on Happy FM’s ‘Epa Hoa Daben’ show.
“President Mahama has also given me the opportunity to serve my country based on my competence not because I had made donations to the Party or I have done something for the Party that’s why I was given a thank you job. My job was given to me based on my competence as an economist that’s why I was sent to the Ministry of Finance,” he opined.
The former Minister has expressed his ambition to contest for the NDC flagbearer but the move is seen by a section of the Party’s faithful as a long shot.
However, Ricketts-Hagan, an investment banker, believes a fight to lead the NDC is a risk he is prepared to take.
On June 4, 2014 when President Mahama attempted to rebuild the support system at the Ministry to help solve the country’s economic crisis, Ricketts-Hagan was replaced with Mrs. Mona Helen Quartey.
By: Joseph Nii Ankrah
