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General News of Thursday, 9 February 2017

Source: rainbowradioonline.com

My comments on preferring a different portfolio misunderstood - Hamid

Mustapha Hamid, Information Minister-designate Mustapha Hamid, Information Minister-designate

Information Minister-designate, Mustapha Hamid has apologized over his comments that he would have preferred a different role after he was named by President Akufo-Addo.

The nominee in an interview with Accra based Citi Fm after he was mentioned by President Akufo-Addo said, he is convinced serving as the President’s Spokesperson for ten years, would have qualified him to take up another challenge instead of the current position.

“To be very honest with you, it is not something that I would have loved to do. Why because I mean of course in life you want to over periods of time take up other challenges so ten years on the job, I thought would have been enough for me to take up another challenge… so my first choice would not have been to be Minister for Information and Presidential Spokesperson.’’

His comments was condemned by Koku Anyidoho Deputy General Secretary of the NDC and called on Nana Addo to revoke his appointment.

‘’If you claim to have served the President as spokesperson for over 8 years in opposition and you have been made the spokesperson for the president and Information Minister, why should you say you expected a different challenge? What is scaring Mustapha Hamid so much that today he wants to run away from the job that he says that he has done for the past 8 or 10 years? Suddenly, he thinks he’s not worth speaking for the president any longer? What is he afraid of’?’’

The nominee appearing before the Appointments Committee was confronted with the question and was asked whether he regrets making the.

In his response, he apologized stating that the intent for what he said was misunderstood. The nominee gave an assurance that he is excited to do his job in the interest of Ghana. This was in response to a questioned posed to him by Okudjeto Ablakwa.

The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu also raised concern that the nominee’s statement may have been misconstrued hence asked if he stood by his comments or regret them.

He said, ‘’I regret the way it was misunderstood...It was completely misunderstood and to reiterate the point, I am very excited and over the moon.’’