Ministers Blasted..They Are Arrogant & Power Drunk

Mr. Alex Asabere, the man who founded the Ghana Democratic Movement in the United Kingdom and a man said to be among those who spearheaded the installation of democracy in the country from abroad has sent strong signals of great disappointment over what he described as unsatisfactory performance by a section of the executive and government officials.

Mr. Asabere who was in the country for the Christmas holidays said he was completely distraught and saddened by the self-seeking interest of some of the government ministers and a show of arrogance by some ministers instead of fighting for the interest of the masses who voted them into power.

He has thus suggested to the president to be wary of his own ministers and people appointed to serve in sensitive national positions because they will be the same people who would cause the downfall of his government.

Mr Asabere was speaking in an exclusive interview.

"The president must take the trouble to do a proper appraisal of the performance of his ministers and people occupying important national positions and to enable him carry out necessary restructuring and kick out those people who are only there not only to live on the sweat of suffering Ghanaians but to exploit the people and lord it over them.

"It is clear that many of the ministers are not there for the people they are supposed to serve but are there for themselves and their immediate families" he stated.

He pointed out that through his extensive interaction with NPP prominent supporters and individuals both in Accra and Kumasi when he arrived in the country, people are constantly grumbling over the apparent show of power drunkenness and opulence at the expense of the suffering masses.

Mr Asabere cited an example of glare ineptitude on the part of some ministers. He said during his visit he went to one ministry to see the minister on very important issues but he refused to see him after he, Asabre, had been made to wait for a long time by the secretary.

"The minister did not bother to listen to my mission even though I had an important mission to discuss with him concerning his area of jurisdiction, I also learnt that many of the ministers always give excuses to avoid visitors and Ghanaian citizens but they are ready to receive foreigners," he recalled with regret.

He said last year when he paid a similar visit to the country his attempt to meet the president, for a scheduled appointment, was thwarted by the Chief of Staff.

This he explained is not a healthy development for the progress of the country since many useful suggestions and possible discussions leading to investment are stifled in this way.

"The president himself told me in London when he came there for investment promotion that anytime I am in Ghana I should see Mr. Kojo Mpianim so that arrangements would be made to see him but Mr. Mpianim kept giving excuses even though the president was available," he noted.

According to Mr. Asabere last year he wrote on two occasions to the president concerning his observation and impressions about the performance and shortcomings of the NPP government but he never received any reply.

"I am sure the people at the secretariat of the presidency never passed on my letters to the president; he would have responded to them," he said adding it is a tragedy that the "mafia" that exist at the president's office is causing dissatisfaction among the citizenry.

He therefore asked the president to restructure his secretariat for effective correspondence both within and outside the country.

Mr. Asabere expressed unhappiness with those in charge of the sector ministries of Lands and Forestry, Roads and Highways, Communications and Technology, Energy, Youth and Sports and Foreign Affairs, saying that these sector ministers should have long been replaced by more competent people by the president.

He however singled out three ministers, who according to him, have distinguished themselves for special praise. These are the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the Minister of Defence who is also the acting Minister for Interior, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, and Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, the Economic Planning and Regional Integration Minister.

Mr. Asabere asked the president not to forget the people who helped him to come to power and eventually the people who voted his government into power.

"I know most of the people who supported the government are complaining they have been neglected but that should not be the case", he said.

He said the president must in a way show appreciation to all those who in one way or the other supported the cause of the party tremendously to win the 2000 elections both locally and internationally.