Inusah Fuseini: Best performing minister

Without any shred of doubt, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Alhaji Inusah Abdulai B. Fuseini stands out gallantly as the most hardworking minister appointed under President John Dramani Mahama’s eight months government.

The sterling performance of Alhaji Inusah Fuseini at his new portfolio, justifies why the President elevated him from the position of a Deputy Minister of Energy in the erstwhile Prof. Mills’ administration to a substantive Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, and more so, his inclusion in the first batch of ministers appointed by President Mahama.

Not only has the legislator, who is also a lawyer of reputable standing acquitted himself creditable in the role handed him by the president, he has by far; since assuming office embarked on a journey of addressing some major and thorny issues relating to state lands, natural resources and other equally important sectors of the Ghanaian economy relating to his Ministry.

It is a basic fact that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources stands as one of the challenging Ministries anybody would like to head, however, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, who entered Parliament in 2006 through a by-election after the then National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for the area, Mr. Wayo Seini crossed carpet to the New Patriotic Party, has so far demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that he is well cut-out for the job.

His exceptional and superb handling of the Ministry so far has not just ended him utmost respect by a larger section of the Ghanaian populace, even his virulent critics are touting him as making a good name for young people which they say, justifies why more young people ought to be appointed to national positions of high standards.

Prior to his appointment to the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry, non-Ghanaians, particularly Chinese nationals engaged in illegal mining was one of the major headache faced by the country, but since his assumption of office, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini engineered moves, which has to some extent partly succeeded in flushing out unauthorized Chinese illegal miners and other illegal operators in the mining industry.

In the midst of the eight months long election petition, which had adversely affected government dealings, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources under Alhaji Inusah Fuseini demonstrated government’s commitment to dealing with the issue of illegal miners by instituting an inter-ministerial taskforce against illegal mining.

He has also initiated moves to have the Prof. Akilapka Sawyer seven member committee, which was set up by then Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and the then Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda to review and renegotiate the stability agreements government signed with mining establishments under the former President Kufuor administration to complete its work.

The Minister recently expressed rage over the agreement, and said everything is being done by the Prof. Sawyer committee to finalize its work in order to enter into new agreements with mining firms in the country.

In order to address the difficulties of illicit logging and trade in timber products, which have over the years led to the depletion of some major forests in the country, the Minister has begun moves to have the worrying problem addressed.

Through his effort, the Ministry has signed an Aide Memoire on the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between Ghana and the European Union to address the challenge, which many have said will lead to the restoration of the forest belt.

Recently, the Tamale Central MP was quoted in the media to have stated the Ministry, and government’s commitment to pursue the objectives set out in the National Land Policy launched in 1999 with a long-term goal to stimulate economic development, reduce poverty and promote social stability.

This, the Minister said “is aimed at breaking bureaucratic hurdles and long documentation periods that potential developers and investors go through to get land documents registered”

Under his supervision, the Ministry has embarked on processes to review the legal framework, preparation of a national spatial development framework, modernization of survey and mapping policy to aid the planning and registration processes, and the establishment of customary land secretariats.

Checks at the Ministry revealed that, within his short stay at the Ministry, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini has set out clear cut vision and guidelines that will result in the speedy takeoff of the Ministry’s policies and programs thereby, making it one of the outstanding ministries one would want to work.

Workers at the Ministry say, Alhaji’s personal attributes and human relations speaks volumes of him and that they say, could partly be the main reason for his enviable achievement at the challenging Ministry within this relatively short time.

His colleague MPs, from both the majority and minority sides, have all confirmed his depth of wisdom when it comes to contributions and debates on the floor of Parliament, indeed, in the run-up to the 2012 elections when Parliament debated the Electoral Commission’s motion on the creation of additional constitutions, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, with cogent and potent reasoning, stood out as one of the young MPs who staunchly defended the creation of the additional constituencies.

As an eloquent campaigner for the needs of the downtrodden, the Tamale Central legislator’s constituents are hailing him as one who has their developmental needs at heart.

Many say, despite his busy role as a Cabinet Minister, he still finds time to visit his constituents regularly and work towards addressing challenges facing them.

“Considering his wealth of knowledge in law and politics and his determination at fighting corruption in the public service, it is not surprising that under his watch, first as a deputy minister and now minister, public servants working with him are compelled to strictly adhere to the Public Procurement Act, a senior public servant who wants to remain anonymous told The Al-Hajj recently.

President Mahama might have known all this, that was why in his first batch of nominees for Ministerial appointments; aside Mr. Mahama Ayariga, the Minister of Information and Media Relations, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini was the only young politician whose name featured prominently in his list, and his nomination was greeted with overwhelming approval.

With his outstanding performance so far, it is highly expected that other young appointees will emulate his shining example and justify the confidence first reposed in young men and women by the late President Mills and now taken to a higher notch by President Mahama.