Politics of Friday, 18 January 2013
Source: Joy Online
I’ve not asked any chief to lobby for ministerial position for me - Kofi Buah
Caretaker Deputy Minister of Energy in-charge of Petroleum, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah says he is upset with attempts by some chiefs in the Western Region to arm-twist the president into appointing him Minister for Oil and Gas.
He said he had not engaged the services of any chief as his lobbyist.
His comments followed a directive by some chiefs in the Western Region to President John Mahama to appoint one of their own as Minister of the yet to be created Ministry of Gas and Oil Resources.
The chiefs said they could only trust a son of the Western Region to manage the oil resources to benefit the indigenes.
One of the chiefs, Awulae Agyamfi Kwame, Omanhene of the Nsien Traditional Area, told Joy News’ Eric Ahianyo Wednesday that they were tired of the many failed promises of politicians.
He cited a promise allegedly made by then Vice President John Mahama to cede ten per cent of the oil revenue exclusively to the development of the Western Region, a promise he said generated so much controversy and which was broken eventually.
Asked who he had in mind as a likely minister, the chief mentioned Mr. Buah whom he said had been well groomed for the position.
But Mr. Armah Kofi Buah, speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Thursday said “I was completely upset,” when he heard the news.
“Quite frankly I completely disagree with the position taken by these chiefs and with all due respect I completely condemn that position; that view that says that just because a resource is in a region people that must be appointed must come from that particular region,” he said.
He has been a Deputy Minister for the past four years and has been re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Elembele which he said he is “happy about.”
The President, Kofi Buah, said has been a champion of the Western region, and that, “there is a lot of support of people across this country for the development of not only the entire country but the Western region…
“But I think it is also very important to point out that it is time for all of us especially people from the Western region to make sure that we don’t make statements that create the impression that somehow because a resource is from our area people that should be appointed should come from the Western region.”
“I do not believe those statements represent me or quite frankly represent a lot of the views of the people of the Western region, the President must make that position by himself alone,” and that the chiefs did not consult him before making those comments.
He was of the view that should he or anybody be appointed the chiefs and the people of the Western region should give the person their full cooperation.
