Mixed reactions have continued to greet President Akufo-Addo’s 110 ministerial appointments and on Saturday morning, the Editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Mr Abdul Malik Kweku Baako known for his prowess in retentive memory of national issues said he agreed that the “number is big.”
But he was quick to add that if it was not a constitutional or a legal breach, then the President should be allowed to proceed with implementing his vision with the numbers he thinks, was required.
Contributing to discussions on the news analysis programme of Joy News television station [Newsfile] on Saturday morning, Mr Baako said “If it is a constitutional breach, if it is a legal breach, then there are avenues even now, for him [President] to proceed to cure the mischief.”
“But if it is not a constitutional breach, it is not a legal breach, you can talk, you can criticize, if the president is so minded to agree, there can be changes, reviews and here.”
To him, there was no doubt that cost was involved in having 110 ministers but as far as the President had not breached the constitution, those expressing resentment for the number are entitled to their opinions but the President should be allowed to prosecute his vision.
“I agree the number is big, I have done my own assessment, where I think we can do reduction here and there but I realise that even the reduction is marginal.
“For instance, - Information, - I cannot understand why we should have three [deputies] at Information…
“Energy -, surprisingly I’m for the three at Energy, you recall I was against the combination/collapsing of Petroleum and Power into one to make it energy. That’s a new area and a very expansive area so I was thinking they should have allowed it to remain separate, the President in his vision and the kind of programme, he has decided to put them together, I don’t have a problem with three deputy ministers going there, because of my own understanding of the new zones there, and the implications there.”
“Agriculture three -, I would have said ok and that is not unprecedented, we had three deputy ministers under Rawlings by 1999, but you see, there is a minister of state for Agriculture...I think the three, not the best.”
He said another element which is connected is the kind of reconfiguration that has been done in terms of separation of ministries
“To be honest with you and I have to be very frank sometimes, prior to 2001, I was also of the view that the numbers were huge and I was part of those who were criticising the Rawlings administration for having those numbers, I remember Madam Hawa Yakubu led us in that crusade.
"Then, Mr Kufuor made a certain public confession and proceeded. Since 2001, I’ve come to the conclusion that, look, it is not so much the numbers because you see at the end of the day, you can’t do anything about it if the president insist on keeping that number, you can’t do anything about it.
“The public are entitled to criticize, to lambast, to attack, to bring alternatives, especially the civil society groups, the governance groups, and they are doing it, and I’m happy with that. Indeed it is fantastic that you have all those groups coming up public and saying this is wrong, we disagree with it but that’s the end of it.
“If the president does not listen or hear and insists that this is the programme I have and this is how I’m going to execute the programme, bottom line, come election time, that’s where you exercise your veto,
If it is a constitutional breach, if it is a legal breach, then there are avenues, even now, for him to proceed to cure the mischief, but if it is not a constitutional breach, it is not a legal breach, you can talk, you can criticize, if the president is so minded to agree, there can be changes reviews.
Source: Daily Graphic
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Understand the bottom line of the perspective of the President - to transform Ghana. Yes, the number is huge. What if it takes that to achieve macroeconomic goals of low inflation, low unemployment rate and high economic growth. Presently, the economy is running on a slope recession. The economy is worse per the figures read from international economic agencies and the newspapers. The economy needs absolute revamping. Allow Nana Addo to work. Allow him. If those ministers turn liabilities as time advances, Ghanaians shd put their shoulders to the wheel to critisize. The then-Adenta MP, Hon. Adu-Asare, was advanced into the Presidential staff as a ghost minister. That was not mentioned of. I agree the number is big and some of the ministries created need nothing but consolidation into the larger ministries where sub-offices will be created and the Heads of those will report to the Minister-in-charge. Let us give him the chance to operate and work. Let us pray for him. My major concern is the total cost for these 110 Ministers. That is my major concern and if productivity on their parts will surpass the total cost, I am content with it.
What was happening in the former government? Ministers who were removed from their positions were maintained at the Presidency till the Mahama government exited. The former Ashanti/Eastern Regional ministers and a host of others who were removed ended up as Ministers at the Presidency which in effect made the number of ministers very high but it was also kept on the quiet. These additional ministers benefited from the sale of Presidential Office car sale. The NDC must come out and challenge this.
Peacefm, can you please publish the list of these so-called ministers for our records???
I am surprised at the outcry over the number of ministerial appointments. The president made some promises to warrant the confidence Ghanaians placed in him at the elections. He will be accountable to the electorate at the end of the four year term. The basis for success or failure will be dependent on how he fulfils the promises. He did not promise Ghanaians that he will come to the people to show him how he will achieve the promises. He has the duty to do it in a way that is best known to him to fulfil those promises, so leave him to do what he will do to fulfil those promises. Don't impede him in his bid to do the work. These ministers are going to work and they will be paid to do the work. They are not going to be given houses and cars for simply supporting Nana Akuffo Addo as it was in the case of Akua Donkor and ex- president Mahama. We know of NDC functionaries who collected salaries though they were not doing anything-but these are people going to ensure that Ghanaians get to the promised land. Please don't be Osiakwan like the proverbial Konongo Kaya who will not do the work but will not allow somebody else to do it. IS the NDC scared because with this approach and the success of the Akuffo Addo government they will remain in opposition sina die. The interest of Ghana is supreme!
IF THE PREZ. SUCCESS ED WITH THE SO CALLED HUGE NO. OF MINISTERS IN HIS FIRST TERM IN OFFICE, I THINK THIS BRUHAHA WILL BE A BRUHAHAA.
Kweku you are my Mentor.Please NDC-propagandist, do not let it looks as if the President is only creating Jobs for the NPP Loyalist only for their loyalty sake. Mind you a lot of hard working NPP gurus have also refused appointment from the President.They prefer working for the Party to any ministeral appointment. We should be mindful, as per NPP manifesto, that the President has insisted,and indeed,been consitent about his Vision of transforming Ghana from Gugisberg type of economy, exportation of our raw natural resources, to that of value added industrial and productive economy. Therefore he needs all hands on board and not only from his so called NPP Loyalist but also pivate Investors from everywhere in the world. People argue that we have instutitions in place which can help him archieve his goals, all things being equal, this argument could hold. But the institutions have been there in our previous Administrations and the results are there to see. The President keeps on saying that, you can't keep on doing the same thing all time and expect different results.If we flashed a little back we would realize and appreciate that President Kufour comparatively increased his numbers and he achieved better results than others. If you like you could take that as my case study, but nevertheless, hindsight had equally borne me out.
The number is too big. Let us call a spade a spade! I voted for change but this is not what i want and I am against it. We need to spend less on politicians. We have to strengthen the public services's ability to implement and operationalise. Not more portfolio for politicians who do not add to the material well-being of the people.
But Kweku have you thought of the ex gratia for these people? Can the nation afford payment in the future if they eventually exit office? Awful analysis.The quantum could be huge.