Dumor, Haruna Atta Join Gov’t

By A A Yayra

In the face of intense speculations among Ghanaians as to which operative of the National Democratic Congress will likely craft a befitting slot in President John Dramani Mahama’s next set of appointees in his impending administration, credible information gathered by The Al-Hajj indicates that former Joy FM Super Morning Show host and ace BBC news anchor, Komla Dumor has been slated for the position of Presidential spokesperson.

Close sources at the seat of government, the Osu Castle disclosed to The Al-Hajj that, President Mahama’s decision to appoint the world-class Ghanaian broadcaster to the high office of spokesperson is due to Mr. Dumor’s stunning performance and achievement in the area of communication.

By this appointment, the celebrated anchor will take over from current presidential spokesperson, John Abdulai Jinapor; who according to inside sources close to the President has been penciled for a deputy ministerial position in one of the ministries.

Another interesting appointment the President is set to announce is the position of Head of Communication at the castle. This position, formerly manned by Mr. Koku Anyidoho, castle sources disclosed to The Al-Hajj will fall to the Editor in chief of the Accra Mail, Alhaji Abdul Haruna Atta.

“This may come as a surprise to many people, Yes, Haruna may not be one of us due to his political inclination, but I bet you, his contributions and support towards the President cannot be over emphasized…it is just proper and as a mark of moving away from the winner takes all style of politics to have people with different political persuasions serve in your government; a practice the President has promise to weed out of our politics” the source noted.

Mr. Anyidoho, according to our source has his eyes firmly fixed on the Youth and Sports Ministry, a position his close pal and former presidential aide and Member of Parliament for Odododiodio, Hon Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuije is also said to be interested in.

Mr. Komla Dumor was born on October 3, 1972 in Accra, Ghana. His grandfather was Philip Gbeho, composer of the Ghanaian national anthem. He joined the BBC African Service in 2006 as host of the radio program, Network Africa. He is currently a news presenter for the BBC’s international television news channel, BBC World, presenting BBC World News and “Africa Business Report”. Prior to joining the BBC he worked for JOY FM in Accra, Ghana, and was the 2003 winner of Journalist of the Year award given by the Ghana Journalist Association. Dumor is the only West African news reader on BBC World News.

He studied medicine but he changed course and graduated from the University of Ghana with a BSc in Sociology and Psychology and from Harvard University with an MA in Public Administration; he is married to Kwansema, with whom he has two children.

The yet to be appointed head of communication at the Castle, Alhaji Haruna Atta, a seasoned and celebrated Journalist, worked with former President Rawlings during the days of the revolution. He is married to Nana Yaa Agyeman-Attah, the younger sister of Ghana’s former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings. In the early 80s, he was made the Managing Director of Ghana Films Industry Corporation. Between 1996 and 2000, he worked as the editor of the Statesman newspaper.

The celebrated Journalist later founded his own newspaper; the Accra Daily Mail now known as the Accra Mail.

These impending appointments, a deep throat source at the presidency told The Al-Hajj is in sync with President Mahama’s dream of breathing a new life into the nation’s body polity by ensuring politicians embrace partnership and not partisanship in his administration.

Addressing the 5th Parliament of the 4th Republic on the state of nation, President asked leaders of political parties and political actors in the country to commit to working together for the common good of the people as Ghanaians “demand from us partnership and not partisanship.” To him, politicians should “agree to a multi-partisan process to secure the future of our country” for the long term survival of the nation.” On Tuesday, barely 24 hours after being sworn into office President Mahama appointed Mr Prosper Douglas Kwehu Bani, Mr Roger Kwesi Angsomwine, Dr Raymond Atuguba and Dr Sulley Gariba to the positions of chief of staff, Cabinet secretary, Executive secretary to the President and Senior Policy Coordinator at the office of the president respectively.

He subsequently nominated twelve persons for approval by parliament for ministerial positions in accordance with Article 78 of the 1992 Constitution. They are Seth Tekper, an immediate past deputy Finance minister for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Hannah Tetteh, MP for Awutu Senya West and former Minister for Trade and Industry for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Akwesi Opong Fosu, for Local Government, Clement Kofi Humado, MP for Anlo for the Ministry of Agriculture and Prof Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, for Education.

Others are Alhaji Innusah Fuseini, MP for Tamale Central for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemana, MP for Sissala West for the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Collins Dauda, Asutifi South MP and former Transport Minister for the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr. Omane Boama, former deputy Youth and sports Minister for the Ministry of Communications and Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central and former Trade and Industry deputy minister for the Ministry of Information.

The rest are Dr Oteng Agyei, a former Energy Minister for the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and Nana Oye Luther, a gender activist has been assigned to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

These appointments according to political pundits clearly demonstrate the President’s underlined commitment to tap into the reach experience of any Ghanaian, irrespective of their political persuasions for the rapid development of Ghana.