Kufuor’s first
Cabinet reshuffle...
Minority MPs react to first cabinet reshuffle
Major losers J. H.
Mensah and Elizabeth Ohene
Mixed reaction greets Kufuor's
first Cabinet reshuffle
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 September 2001 - It's beginning to emerge that last week's reshuffle was a bombshell to those affected, as well as those who went unscathed. The public, but especially the media, had been speculating, for some time now, that the president would sooner or later have to shift some of his ministers round, perhaps even sacking some of them outright.
The conventional wisdom prevailing however was that he may just wait to celebrate his first anniversary in office on January 7, 2002 before taking the scalpel to his government appointees. That he embarked on his first reshuffle only ten months into his tenure shows the extent to which he must have been compelled to move so fast.
The straw that broke the camel's back was the proposed US$20,000 car loan for Members of Parliament.
Sources say he was extremely upset by how it was handled and so he decided to remove the "Mr. Nice Guy" garb for a while and show a little of what Kufour is made of.
The story has it that the day the reshuffle was announced, the cabinet meeting went on like any other, only that the chief executive had a sharp edge to his voice, as well as an uncharacteristic harshness. Unease amongst ministers started creeping in and they squirmed in their seats as he brought to bear on them the full force of the awesome authority the constitution allows him.
He would not brook any waffle and made them know that the issue before them was an executive one and so the buck stopped at his executive desk. It wasn't exactly a stormy meeting, because the president was in full control, but a tense one. After the meeting, chastened and apprehensive ministers filed out, each with his or her own thoughts. If they suspected that something was afoot, the meeting they had just attended did not disclose how.
The boss himself, it would seem, had already made up his mind. The story goes that later during the day, he dictated his decision and ordered that it be made public ASAP.
Rising star, Kwabena Agyepong was on hand to break the news through the electronic media and the state-owned Daily Graphic late at night. Most of the private papers had by then gone to bed. As soon as the news broke on Thursday night, telephones woke to life as media people, politicians, and the general public started making contact. The biggest political news of the ten-month old Kufuor administration had broken and it had to be shared. The editor of The Dispatch, Mr. Ben Ephson put in a call to the editor of The Accra Mail who was fast asleep and could not be pried out of bed! As the next day broke, it became the dominant news and still is.
The move has been widely welcomed with some people The Accra Mail spoke to saying it should have gone further with a number of dismissals instead of what the main opposition NDC later described as only "musical chairs". The President's own popularity has shot up. His decisiveness has impressed many people who expect more of such to help with his zero tolerance for corruption in the body politic.
On Friday morning, long-faced affected ministers and whispering unaffected ones went through the day knowing fully well that the president had served notice and the next move could be even more decisive. There are no sacred cows. Said a source, "they are all in shock".
The job of minister is a highly demanding one, but also quite rewarding in many respects. Apart from the privileges of office like free use of car, accommodation, diplomatic treatment, etc, there are perks like foreign travel with fairly lucrative per diems, legitimate gifts, and contacts that could be useful in life after service. The loss of ministerial status can therefore be cataclysmic to some.
The question is who will be next? In the next reshuffle, the president would have to pare down the number of his ministers and appointees around the executive branch for it is bloating. That's when there would be real weeping and gnashing of teeth! - Source: Accra Mail
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 October 2001- The Minority in Parliament on Friday said the cabinet reshuffle has failed to meet the expectations of Ghanaians and described it as "a mere window-dressing".
"The minority is disappointed that the present reshuffle undertaken under a panic situation lacks a clear purpose, direction or focus of the government and demonstrates a classical case of musical chairs."
The minority's views were expressed in a statement signed by Mr Doe Adjaho, Minority Chief Whip, in Accra.
The statement said the greatest amusement about the reshuffle was the naming of Mr J. H. Mensah as a Senior Minister, explaining that the position is unknown to the constitution and questioned the legitimacy of the change of leadership of Parliament from Mr Mensah to Papa Owusu Ankomah.
Quoting the Standing Orders of Parliament, the Minority stated that the party or parties holding majority of the seats in the House designate the Majority Leader. "It is never part of the prerogative of the President to designate the Majority Leader."
The Minority urged the NPP government to "as a matter of urgency come out and clarify the position."
The statement, however, conceded the prerogative of the President to appoint, fire or reshuffle members of his cabinet under the constitution.
The Minority stated that the creation of new ministries by the government debunks the much-touted claim of the ruling New Patriotic Party to reduce the number of ministers to cut down cost.
The number of ministries is now more than that of the former NDC government, which the NPP condemned while in opposition.
The statement also said the reshuffle has vindicated the policies and positions of the NDC, which the NPP rejected, by recognising and reverting to the designations of Ministry of Parliament Affairs, and Ministry of Roads and Transport.
The Minority described the de-linking of the Mines portfolio from Lands Forestry and Mines as not justifiable on rational policy grounds but craving to create more jobs for the boys. "This clearly is a waste of resources," it said.
The statement also called for clarification of the designation and mandate of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and the newly created Ministry of Communications and Technology.
"Certainly there is a case of repetition and overlap, which the government needs as a matter of urgency clarify."
The statement, however, welcomes the appointment to cabinet of a candidate from the Upper West Region.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 12 October 2001 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday night made the first major changes in Ministerial portfolios.
Mr J.H. Mensah, Leader of Government Business is now Senior Minister and Chairman of Government Economic Team. The Presidential Affairs Minister, Mr Jake Obestebi Lamptey is now Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, whiles Ms Elizabeth Ohene, the Media Relations Minister moves to the Office of the President as a minister.
Mr C.O. Nyanor is reassigned as a Minister at the office of the Economic Team, whiles Prof Kasim Kasanga from the Upper West Region and Deputy Lands and Forestry Minister has been nominated to be the substantive minister, a statement signed by Ambassador D.K. Osei said last night.
Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom in addition to his present ministerial responsibility has been nominated as the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission.
Mr Kwamena Bartels, Works and Housing Minister now moves to replace Mr Nyanor as Private Sector Development Minister. Mr Yaw Barimah Deputy Interior Minister has been nominated as Works and Housing Minister.
Papa Owusu-Ankoma, Youth and Sports Minister now becomes Majority Leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, whiles Deputy Presidential Affairs Minister, Edward Osei Kwaku has been nominated as Youth and Sports Minister. Mr Felix Owusu Adjapong is Communications and Technology Minister.
Mr Kwadwo Adjei Darko now becomes the Mines Minister. Mr Kwadwo Mpianim has been nominated for the consideration of the Council of State as the Chief of Staff. Prince Imoro Andani, Tamale Municipal Chief Executive has been designated to be the Minister for the Northern region, whiles Mr Ben Salifu moves from the Tamale Residency to the National Development Planning Commission as a minister.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Mixed
reaction greets Kufuor's first Cabinet reshuffle
Accra (Greater Accra) 12 October 2001 - There has been mixed
public reaction to the cabinet reshuffle announced by President Kufuor on
Thursday. In what most political observers have desribed as unprecedented, Mr.
Kuffor made major changes in his Cabinet after nine months in office
reassigning some promininet members of his government and creating new
portfolios.
The leader
of Government Busiuness and Majority Leader, J H Mensah is now Senior Minister
and Chairman of the Economic Management team. Former Media Relations Minister,
Elizabeth Ohene has been appointed as a Minister at the Presidency without
portfolio.
Members
of the general public have raised different issues about the reshuffle. Some
were of the view that the President should be commended for what they described
as his sensitivity to public sentiments on the performance of certain
Ministers.
Others
were however not happy that some Ministers of State such as Foreign Minister,
Hackman Owusu Agyemang who has caused so much disgrace to government and the
country through the way he spearheaded the government’s withdrawal of support
for the President of ECOWAS Bank, George Sipa Yankey was not removed. Energy
Minister, Kan Dapaah was also mentioned by the public as a Minister who should
have been re-assigned in view of the controversial Sahara Energy Oil affair.
Some
Members of Parliament also expressed regret that J.H. Mensah who, they
described as very experienced, has been removed from his position as Majority
Leader in Parliament. They hoped that the new Majority Leader, Papa Owusu
Ankomah will bring the same heat into the debate in the House. – Joy FM
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com