Minister Aspirants: What should be done with them?

A new term is entering the lexicon of Ghanaian politics: Minister-Aspirant. This is because for the first time in Ghana’s political history, serving ministers of state are offering themselves to run for the highest office of state: the presidency.

At the last count, there were eight of them and it is speculated that a few more would add to the number.

The ruling party’s constitution enjoins them to resign after filing their nominations, but the ruling party is not the appointing or dismissing authority; that rests with the President of the Republic.

Where the interest of the president and his party coincide, there’s no problem, but should the president want to keep his ministers, whose pleasure should take precedence?

Unconfirmed reports however say the president is planning a reshuffle soon which may affect all the Minister-Aspirants. Working on these unconfirmed reports, party members have kicked off the debate into what should be done with these Minister-Aspirants.

Dr. L.A. Omane, a founding member of the NPP and former Ambassador to Cuba thinks they should neither resign nor be re-shuffled. He sent his arguments (below) to the ADM

The National Executive Committee and the Council of Elders of NPP should convene a joint meeting to deliberate on the conditional clause in the party’s constitution, which requires Minster- Presidential Aspirants to resign their positions, after they file their nominations.

The party’s constitution provides for all Minster-Aspirants to resign after filing their nominations to contest for the party’s top job. It further states that aspirants will have to file their nominations three months before the congress to elect a candidate.

The framers of the party’s constitution did not envisage that a situation will arise where a chunk of Cabinet Ministers would fall prey to this provision.

In a recent issue of one local newspaper, it was revealed that there is no country in the world, where Minster- Aspirants are asked to resign their positions before they file their nomination to contest as flag bearers of their political parties. Why then is the New Patriotic Party shooting itself in the foot?

As it stands now about eight of the ruling party’s aspirants are Cabinet Ministers, holding sensitive positions in government, including a Vice President. What would happen to their various ministries, especially those who are implementing ‘brainchild programmes’?

The ultimate power and decision making authority of the party rests with the National Conference, but to the extent that the true dimensions of implementation of the policy did not surface prior to the last conference, a way has to be found to this looming challenge. The roll call of possible aspirants who will be caught in the net as follows:

Hon. Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Minster for Water Resources, Works and Housing.

Hon. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and NEPAD.

Hon. Dr. Kwame Addo Kuffour, Minister of Defense

Hon. Prof. Mike Ocquaye, Minster of Communications

Hon. Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey, Minster of Tourism and Diaspora Relations

Hon. Mr. Alan Kyeremanten, Minster of Trade, Industry and P. S. I

Hon. Mr. Felix Owusu Agyepong, Majority Leader and Acting Minister of Road Transport

Hon. Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minster of Education Science and Sports

The eight (8) listed ministers above hold very important and key portfolios in the Kufour administration. All the ministers mentioned above have been in the Government for a very long time and have accumulated mountains of rich experience but also have been stalwarts of the party.

Together they contributed enormously to the success and accomplishments of the present government. It also must not forgotten that the 2008 elections are going to be fought on the achievements, track records of the NPP’s 8 years and NDC’s 20 years in office.

The Cabinet Ministers have contributed a lot, and these last 2 years of the NPP administration will have a lot to offer to cement a lasting imprint on the minds of the electorate. They should be around to help with the last lap, their individual and collective contributions will count a lot.

There are those who will advocate their departure from the government. Frequent or periodic portfolio changes or reshuffles, other than for serious offences committed, are not generally helpful.

Most if not all of these Minister-Aspirants have left some lasting and indelible footprints at their various ministries and throughout the country. They must continue to the end, they deserve to receive the accolade of being part of the NPP team which delivered.

The recent elevation of President Kufuor to serve as the Chairman of the AU has brought a new dimension to the equation. Recently, the president was in Algeria among his functions as the chairman of the AU.

These make it imperative for the government to maintain the senior members so that they can set the pace that warrants the NPP’s re-election in the 2008 general elections. This is not to suggest that there are no capable people who can replace them, but it will just be prudent, knowing that most of these Ministers have brainchild programmes that are being implemented.

This raises the issue of vetting of the aspirants. When is it going to happen? It should not be such that the winner will have cobwebs, which would be utilized by the opposition to smear the process of electing a credible candidate.

Whoever is selected eventually should not be to the detriment of Ghana and the NPP. The country needs someone whose track record will create a united nation, where people are proud of their national identity and want to work for progress.