Last batch of Mahama’s ministers uninspiring

On January 28, 2013, the Public Agenda graded the President, John Dramani Mahama, B+ for the quality of his initial appointments into his government.

This paper has since been monitoring and assessing subsequent appointments and has come to a point when it can unequivocally concluded that the president’s recent list of appointees to deputy ministerial positions is both uninspiring and disappointing.

The list though has some personalities of proven competence and ability such as Dr Dominic Ayine, Deputy Attorney General; Ben Dagadu, Deputy Minister for Energy and Petroleum; James Agalga, Deputy Minister for the Interior; Dr Musheibu Mohammed- Alfa, Deputy for Environment; and a few others, this paper is not sure that most of the nominees have the required competence and maturity to help steer the country out of the quagmire it finds itself today.

This paper’s greatest concern is that some of the nominees have no employment history and also come to the job with no experience is not essential for one to succeed as a deputy minister as unfortunate.

Such arguments fly in the face of human resource theory and practice. If even for clerical or junior staff positions a minimum of three years work experience is often required, how much more a deputy ministerial position?

As already noted by sections of the Ghanaian public, the latest appointments have been informed largely by party political considerations rather than professional competence and achievements.

We agree that the youth ought to be given a chance to prove themselves. But, we are in difficult times and we cannot afford to take chances with our collective destiny.

As rightly noted by the former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani, “Even in a private business no one will employ a fresh graduate to head the business because experience is required”.

We take consolation in the fact that two of the country’s key ministries – Finance and Energy were assigned persons who no doubt have something to offer.

Though very little is known about the Deputy Minister for Finance Ricketts Kweku Hagan our checks reveal has finance background and comes to the job with years of private experience.

The Energy Ministry is also blessed with the technical expertise of Benjamin Dagadu, a petroleum engineer with over thirty years experience.

He has worked with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) for more than two decades. Mr Dagadu is expected to complement the substantive minister whose experience in the industry is limited to a four-year stint as Deputy Minister under Dr Joe Oteng Adjei.

The permutation, will however, deliver the desired results, depending on the character and disposition of Mr Dagadu.

Our concern about the low quality of some of President Mahama’s appointments is not to be interpreted as elitist because it is not just about education. In difficult times like we find ourselves we need men and women of substance, a crop that can be described as achievers. The young and inexperienced will have to bid their time and learn. Ghana cannot afford to sacrifice experience and maturity on the altar of youthfulness.

In the days when youthful, highly educated and experienced Dr Ibn Chambas, John Dramani Mahama, Martin Amidu served as a Deputy Ministers, it counted for much to be appointed to that position.