The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is filled with ex-girlfriends and family members of president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a member of the National Democratic Congress legal team, Abraham Amaliba has alleged.

According to Mr Amaliba, “the president has 65 relatives occupying various positions in the country” when the NPP has previously accused the former president, John Mahama, of making his government a ‘friends and family government’.

Speaking in on TV3’s New Day on Wednesday, July 17, Mr Amaliba claimed Nana Akufo-Addo has been giving appointments to undeserving people due to his relationship with them.

“NPP think they are ordained rulers in this country,” Mr Amaliba said

According to the private legal practitioner, “the president employs ex-girlfriends and family members. Ex-girlfriends of the president have been made ambassadors”.

Mr Amaliba who could not substantiate his claim on the show, initially refused a request by the host, Bright Nana Amfoh, to withdraw the statement, maintaining he would rather walk out of the studio than to retract.

He however gave in and withdrew the statement after the show resumed from a commercial break.

Mr Amaliba’s claim was triggered by an issue raised by one of the panelist on the show, former CPP Chairperson, Rhodaline Ayarna, about a foreign architect who is said to be operating illegally in Ghana.

However, New Patriotic Party spokesperson, Stephen Amoah said there is no problem in employing family members “provided the president’s brother is doing a genuine business.”

He said “the fact that somebody is a president doesn’t mean his brother cannot work, unless the president’s brother is doing something against the law or probably being given too much advantage against others.”