Mahama faces backlash as NDC members flood UNGA despite restrictive directive

President John Dramani Mahama’s government is facing fresh criticism after the presence of several National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth organizers and party-affiliated staffers at the ongoing 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, despite a strict directive from the Chief of Staff restricting attendance.

The Directive On Lean Delegations

On August 30, 2025, the Office of the President issued a formal communiqué signed by Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu.

The statement, circulated under the Presidency’s communication portal, stressed that no minister, deputy minister, public servant, state agency head, or political appointee was permitted to attend the UNGA or any side events without explicit written approval from the Chief of Staff.

The directive, framed under President Mahama’s “Resetting Ghana” agenda, emphasized the need for “a lean, coherent, and cost-effective” representation abroad.

It warned that any government official who flouted the order would face strict sanctions.

This was widely interpreted as an attempt to cut costs and avoid accusations of wasteful expenditure on international travel.

A Different Reality In New York

However, what has emerged from New York paints a different picture.

Social media posts and eyewitness accounts show that not only did the official government delegation attend, but several NDC youth organizers and political staffers were also present at high-level events.

The 16 regional youth organizers of the NDC, including Upper East’s Abraham Azumah Lambon and Northern Region’s Believer Likpalmor, were spotted in New York, raising eyebrows about who authorized their presence.

In one widely circulated photograph, Emmanuel Kabu Nartey, an NDC activist, is seen alongside the party’s National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, at UNGA events.

Critics argue that the numbers of Ghanaian attendees at this year’s UNGA under Mahama surpass all previous delegations, undermining the President’s pledge of a lean and disciplined government.

Discrepancies In the Official List

Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu had earlier released an official list of fewer than 20 individuals cleared to accompany the President.

The delegation included the First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Mahama, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and other senior officials.

Yet, further scrutiny has revealed gaps. A social media post by presidential staffer Ben Dotsei Malor confirmed that Beatrice Annangfio, another presidential aide, attended high-level events at UNGA, despite her name being absent from the official list published by the government.

Public Reactions And Transparency Concerns

The opposition NPP has seized on the controversy, accusing the Mahama administration of deliberate misrepresentation.

Commentators argue that the presence of party activists, under the guise of official representation, erodes public trust and undermines the stated policy of austerity.