General News of Thursday, 5 July 2007
Source: --
Cabinet ministers who intend to contest the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are expected to vacate their posts earliest by Monday, latest by end of month, according to the newspaper Accra Daily Mail.
The minister-aspirants are to prepare comprehensive handing-over notes and consult some more with President Kufuor from now on, before stepping out to pursue their presidential ambitions.
The ministers are expected to be leaving at different times between next week and July ending.
Late last month a statement issued by Mr D.K. Osei, Secretary to the President said "after frank and open discussions, an understanding was reached that the Ministers would step aside from Government SOON after the AU Summit."
It continued "this is to enable them concentrate on their individual efforts to win the Party's nomination and also enable Government continue with its work without any distraction throughout the hectic period ahead."
The Ministers expected to leave are:
That argument has so far been discredited and so Vice President Aliu Mahama would remain in office as he pursues his presidential ambitions. About two weeks ago, he informed his boss officially about his intention to run for president finally breaking his silence on his future.