Kwesi Pratt jabs Prez Mahama over appointments

Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jr. has raised concerns over the four appointments made by President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday.

He says immediate reactions that followed the announcement suggest the president may not have done enough consultations with his party.

Kwesi Pratt told Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme on Wednesday that the president must be cautious to forestall dissension from within his own party against his appointments.

“If you look at these four appointments and you base your judgment on these appointments, you will have a very, very distorted view of the government,” Mr. Pratt said.

He argued that the fact that people within the party do not know the newly appointed Chief of Staff, Mr. Kwesi Bani could be a recipe for trouble.

According to Mr. Pratt, this could prove a dire disadvantage to him because he will be expected to have oversight responsibility over ministers.

“[The Chief of Staff] has to have an understanding of the government machinery and the party. Also that people were looking for information about [him] will suggest that there was not adequate consultation,” he said, adding the business of government is team work and the president must do well to include others in such vital decisions.

Mr. Pratt raised further questions about the newly created positions of the Executive Secretary to the President, which hitherto, was Secretary to the President.

“In a government where you have a Chief of Staff, the ‘Executive Secretary’, what is it supposed to mean? Does it give him extra powers? How is it related to the Chief of Staff?’ he queried.

“It is problematic and it needs to be clarified otherwise there will be confusion in the Castle.”

Mr. Pratt appealed to the presidency to clarify to Ghanaians, the functions of the Senior Policy coordinator, Dr. Sulley Gariba as well.