Cabinet Reshuffle: JAK Holds Back Due To Leak

Although the Ghanaian Government has denied media reports of an eminent ministerial reshuffle, the local media continue to suggest strongly that the exercise is soon to be carried out by president Kufuor

The president is delaying the scheduled announcement of his new cabinet, intended to improve on the government’s efficiency. The announcement date for the reshuffle was last Saturday.

Sources say, the president has decided to hold back after media reports ( READ )of the impending reshuffle. President Kufuor informed cabinet ministers last Thursday of his decision to reshuffle his team, the second since assuming power last year.

A government statement last Friday denied ( READ )that the president is considering reshuffling his cabinet, but high- level sources have confirmed the story.

The president is reported to have given advance knowledge to the ministers. “There are going to be changes in the portfolios of some of you. It is aimed at improving the efficiency of government machinery,” Kufuor was reported by the private owned Daily Dispatch to have told a cabinet meeting last week.

“Sources close to the presidency indicate that one of those likely to be changed from his portfolio is Minister for Information and Presidential Affairs, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey. Majority leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Papa Owusu-Ankomah is likely to be moved to a ministry. Those likely to retain their positions include, Minister for Defence and acting Minister for Interior, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor, Finance Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo and the Minister for Trade, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku”.

The president’s ministerial reshuffle which according to the local media, is expected this month, will be one of the most sensitive he would have taken in his initial four-year tenure of office. It comes against the backdrop of a spate of resignations, credible reports of in-fighting among some of the ministers, the need to have someone from one of the three northern regions at cabinet level, bearing in mind the political consequences.

When the NPP government assumed office on January 7 2001 having been in opposition for 29 years, analysts rightly expected the newly sworn in president to have headaches in appointing as ministers of state, heads of corporations and their boards. There were many groups – those older politicians, who kept the party afloat, those who worked towards the party’s victory, the various pressure groups within the party and most sensitive of all, the ethnic balancing.

It is against this background that the president’s ministerial appointments, within the first few months went beyond 70, a bit of surprise, considering the fact that the NPP when in opposition, vehemently criticised the number of ministers (over 80) of the then government, the National Democratic Congress (NDC). A close analysis of the ministerial list revealed appointments, obviously to satisfy certain political interests.

President Kufuor and his government have been in power for barely two years and their honeymoon should be over by now. The president has, by utterances and deeds, exhibited his capability to take tough economic decisions, the paper said, adding, he should be prepared to take tough political decisions and his upcoming ministerial reshuffle should prove that point.

“It is clear that some ministers have not been performing well and the president should use this opportunity to remove some ministers, merge the ministries, reduce the huge number of deputy ministers and send the signal that the era of appointing ministers to satisfy certain political interests, is over. The resignation of Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu as Interior Minister implies that there is no one from any of the three northern regions at cabinet level.

There have been credible reports that Ms. Christine Churcher might be moved to the Tourism Ministry vacated by Ms. Hawa Yakubu. NPP MP for Shama, Mrs. Angelina Baiden-Amissah is tipped to move over to Ms. Churcher’s position.