Michael Okyere Baafi, Member of Parliament for New Juaben South and a representative of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has publicly criticised President John Dramani Mahama over his choice to appoint Gbevlo-Lartey to a key national role. Baafi claims that this appointment has contributed to Ghana’s current difficulties and is part of what he describes as a broader pattern of controversial government decisions.
According to Baafi, Mahama’s decision to bring Gbevlo-Lartey into a senior position — widely reported as part of national security coordination and diplomatic efforts — has had negative effects on the country’s stability and progress. He argues that such leadership choices send the wrong message and may undermine public confidence in the government’s direction.
Baafi made his remarks during a public address where he linked national setbacks to what he saw as poorly conceived strategic appointments by the President. While Mahama’s administration has defended its personnel decisions as intended to strengthen Ghana’s governance and regional diplomatic ties, critics like Baafi view some appointments as missteps.
One such decision was the appointment of Gbevlo-Lartey as a representative to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and other national security roles, a move supporters say aims to rebuild and improve Ghana’s regional relationships. However, Baafi insists that rather than producing positive outcomes, such decisions are connected to what he labels Ghana’s downfall.
The discussion around Gbevlo-Lartey’s appointment reflects wider debates in Ghana about how leadership selections affect national governance, security, and diplomatic influence. Supporters of the presidency maintain the appointee has experience that serves Ghana’s interests, while opponents use such appointments to highlight what they see as government failures.
