I cannot defend Nana Addo’s cabinet - Kennedy Agyepong

Maverick politician and New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker for Assin Central Constituency, Kennedy Agyepong has admitted he has challenges defending the composition of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s cabinet.

He said on Adom TV’s Morning Show “Badwam” on Tuesday that persons he expected would have been critical in the composition of cabinet were excluded a move he finds difficult in defending but said the president has the constitutional prerogative to choose who he wants to be a member of his cabinet.

“Let me admit that it is difficult to defend this, certain things are indefensible. You need certain brains at all times in cabinet but those persons were left out. It is the President’s right to determine which minister makes it to his cabinet so I do not want to talk further on this matter”, he added.

President Akufo-Addo in conformity with provisions of the Article 76(1) of the 1992 constitution which stipulates that the President should have a cabinet of not less than ten and not more than nineteen members last week made list of his cabinet public.

The list however excluded experienced names like Professor Frimpong Boteng, Hajia Alima Mahama, Kan Dapaah and Osarfo Mahama but Mr Kennedy Agyepong said they should be allowed to take part in cabinet meets.

“He should allow them to take part in cabinet meetings because of their wealth of experience but the only problem is that they will be barred from voting or making critical decisions”, he advocated.

Managing Editor of the Al Hajj Newspaper, Alhaji Bature Iddrissu however expressed concerns over the ‘elephant-size’ government blaming the failure by the president to make what he said were fine brains into cabinet to the outrageous numbers.

“Few ministers can execute the vision with the help of the technocrats rather than engage 11o who are a drain to the national purse”, he stated.