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Opinions of Sunday, 22 February 2009

Columnist: Nunya

Let's Get Serious

LET’S GET SERIOUSE

PART 1

In as much as I strongly believe and subscribe to the opinion that, it is early days yet to start bombarding the NDC administration with a barrage of criticisms, their own inactions are fast leaving them at the whipping end of people’s tongues and am afraid I have to do so too.

The goings at the ministerial vetting, to be charitable, is a great shame to the intelligent people of this country. Little did I expect such an appalling and unsatisfactory performance from the nominees, not to talk of the demeanor of some of the committee members towards some of the nominees. Two nominees according to my estimation did not deserve the portfolios they were nominated for. The first on my list is Miss Sherry Ayittey.

Miss. Sherry Ayittey

I was completely taken aback when I heard Miss Sherry Ayittey answer a question on Global warming. I quickly had to refer to my old geography notes again to be sure that, what I knew as Global warming had not changed to anything else as was been spewed out by Miss Sherry Ayittey.

The Minister designate for Environment Science and Technology explained global warming as the boiling of water under the sea or earthquake under the sea!!!! I thought her answer was referring to Tsunami, while the question was on Green house effect. That was a clear departure from correctitude. Answers to such questions are very elementary and fundamental but Miss Ayittey completely got lost deep inside the sea beds instead of flying high up in the Ozone layer.

In my candid opinion, that was too bad. She clearly demonstrated gross ignorance about the very field she has been nominated for. I hope you would agree with me that, if the president nominates you for a position that you frankly know you cannot handle, the honorable thing to do is to respectfully turn the offer down. That was my exact expectation from Miss Ayittey, but she arrogantly and ignorantly accepted the offer. I pray she would not unleash her ignorance on us for far too long before the first reshuffle.

Mr. Kwao Amoanor

Infact, I think this is the worst man this administration would ever engage. It was mindblowing,disheartening and shameful watching the Minister designate for The Employment and social welfare Ministry gnashing his teeth in bid to answer the most obvious and basic question relating to his Ministry. Mr.Amoanor could not tell the committee the unemployment rate in the country. Is that not shameful enough? This is the very problem Mr. Amoanor is expected to address if he is given the nod. Is that not a good basis for his disqualification? Would it not be dangerous to have Mr.Amoanor superintend over such a sensitive Ministry? His Ministry is expected to solve the unemployment situation in Ghana meanwhile, he does not even know the chunk of the population that is unemployed, and I mean not even a rough figure. He was clueless about basic social welfare issues too.

One question that bothers my mind is that, is Mr.Amoanor the best and only man to steer the affairs of this crucial ministry that has gained notoriety for deciding the election results in this country. Basic social issues as food, water, electricity jobs, safety and other related matters normally take the center stage during elections. We witnessed same in the last December elections where N.P.P greatly used the youth employment policy at almost all their rallies as the basis why they should be retained in office. Only God knows why N.D.C is playing pranks with this very important Ministry. God bless Ghana.

Author: Nunya -A Student of London School of Journalism (L.S.J) brwncecil@yahoo.com