Where is the Senior Minister: Is Osafo Maafo ‘MIA’ while govt wrestles coronavirus?

Senior Minister, Nana Yaw Osafo-Maafo

Governments all over the world are fighting a common enemy. Humanity is being ravaged by a virus so novel in characteristics that scientists all over the globe are in apprehension trying to fully understand it.

If there is a single moment the true essence of leadership can be understood, it has to be moments like these where timely, decisive and effective decisions and actions are the main perquisites in handling a global pandemic.

The government of Ghana led by President Akufo-Addo since the threat of COVID-19 to the country became eminent has taken various steps in ensuring the safety of Ghanaians against the virus.

From the beginning of the government’s fight against the virus, there has been a synergy of government elements playing individual roles that come together to form governments force in the fight. From the sectors of health, education, finance and all other institutions, men and women heading various portfolios have been at the forefront of the president’s charge against COVID-19.

However, little or nothing has been seen or heard from one man who had a new ministerial position created for him to suite his role in the government of Akufo-Addo. The then Senior Minister nominee, Nana Yaw Osafo Marfo whiles defining the role of his ministry to Parliaments Appointment Committee in January 2017 said he was to mainly “coordinate the activities of the economic sectors of his (Akufo-Addo’s) cabinet as it may be.”

The effects of COVID-19 on the world economy expected to be dire, with Ghana already feeling the pinch after closing its borders- both land, sea and air – to the rest of the world.

In Ghana jobs are already being lost, government sources of revenue are faltering and businesses have started shutting down.

In the words of the Senior Minister, the economic sector relates to the other ministries and therefore his experience as a former minister of the country comes to bear in harmonising the economic sectors of governance to keep the economy afloat.

Over the weeks there have been questions about the whereabouts of the minister in these crucial time when the economy and the Ghanaian population is under threat from a virus whose effects are unquantifiable.

Questions on the whereabouts of the Senior Minister are being asked by some Ghanaians especially on social media and it looks like the mere silence and seeming absence of the Senior Minister from the scene gives legitimacy to the concerns of citizens asking of his whereabouts.

‘President Akufo-Addo has said “these are not ordinary times” and for the concerned Ghanaian, the presence and “extraordinary” expertise of their Senior Minister remains necessary in these times of national crisis.

Senior Minister last seen

The last time the Senior Minister was publicly seen was when he joined the Presidents entourage on a 12-day working visit to Scotland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Belgium.

Before the president's return, members of the opposition National Democratic Congress had called for the president and his entire entourage to be placed under quarantine for fear of them contracting the virus which by then had not reached the country.

Upon the president's arrival, social media users including commentator, Kelvin Ekow Taylor and some members of the NDC alleged that the president, the senior minister and other members of the entourage that travelled had tested positive for the virus.

Government however has debunked the allegations saying nobody in the president’s entourage contacted the virus.

While all members forming the president’s entourage have been seen in recent times, the senior minister is yet to be seen or heard from.

See tweets of Ghanaians questioning the whereabouts of the Senior Minister below

Osafo marfo has been missing in action. Some say he has tested positive #prayforosafomarfo
— @jonzwennes (@jonzwennes) March 27, 2020

And Corona virus started in Europe and your Npp govt failed to listen to the advices of ndc officials to blocked the Europeans from entering n bringing this virus into Ghana.Where is Osafo Marfo n Co?
— Big Daddy Cee (@BigDaddyCee7) March 24, 2020