Vikileaks: I reserve the privilege to fire without explanation

President John Mahama has likened his dismissal of Victoria Hammah as Deputy Communications Minister to a coach’s decision to rest a player during a game without offering an explanation.

“…Like a coach, a time comes when you must take some decisions to move a player off the field and coaches have the privilege to do so without question and so as President I have the privilege to decide who serves in my government, who leaves at what time, and so the decision is mine and I’ve taken it and I take responsibility for it”, President Mahama told Journalists at the Flagstaff House to mark his first year in government.

Victoria Hammah was sacked last year after she was heard on a leaked tape claiming Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister, Nana Oye Lithur, may have influenced the verdict of the election petition case, by which the Supreme Court affirmed the President’s victory in the 2012 elections.

Ms Hammah was also heard denigrating fellow Deputy Minister Rachel Appoh for allegedly fighting her boss, Nana Oye Lithur needlessly in the media.

A Committee set up by the Chief Justice to investigate the alleged influence on the Bench, following a petition from the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), dismissed the claim.

Ms Hammah never appeared before the Committee despite several invitations.