Cabinet Reshuffle in January ?

President J.A. Kufuor’s ambition of becoming the first leader of the Danquah-Busia tradition to serve two terms is expected to inspire a major cabinet reshuffle in January 2002.

Sources close to the presidency say Mr. Kufuor is keenly aware of the fact that failure to keep election promises will result in his defeat in elections scheduled for December 2004.

One of key promises, which have not been kept, is the NPP’s pledge to reduce the number of ministers drastically.

The last government had about 88 ministers and deputy ministers and the Kufuor administration has gotten pretty close to that figure with 78 ministers as at the last count, the paper says.

Whiles government sources admit that the current number of ministers is far bigger than what Mr. Kufuor wished to have, they nonetheless justify the number by claiming that the President was compelled after the elections to appease too many constituencies and reward those who assisted his campaign effort.

For a start, ministries with more than one minister and a deputy are expected to be cut to size, to keep the election promise and to cut down expenditure on public officials.

“The Statesman has also dropped hints about the impending reshuffle” a newspaper owned by the current Attorney-General, Nana Akufo-Addo.

The paper claims that government has recognized the apparent confusion caused by the removal of the Technology portfolio from the ministry of science to the ministry of communications.

Another consideration, which may be upper most in the envisaged cabinet reshuffle, may be competence or sustainability for the job.

Speculation is rife that Nana Akufo-Addo, a French-speaking lawyer with ties to France may end up as Minister for Foreign Affairs on account of his firm grasp of foreign policy issues.

The current foreign affairs minister, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang is likely to be shifted to the ministry of agriculture having worked with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.

According to the Weekly Insight, Mr. Owusu-Agyemang is not known to have any foreign policy experience.

Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, current minister for regional integration and economic planning appears to be heading for the ministry of finance.

Strangely, the fate of the current Finance Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo who is credited with the stabilization of the cedi and reduction in the level of inflation is shrouded in mystery, the Insight says.

Information and Presidential Affairs Minister, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey is expected to lose the portfolio of presidential affairs which would be handled by the Chief of Staff.

Other ministries expected to be affected by the reshuffle include, Education and Environment, the paper said.