Mahama's Reshuffle Is To Defuse Ethnic Tension - Gariba

The Senior Policy Coordinator to the President says President Mahama�s re-assignment of regional ministers is to defuse ethnic tension and unite Ghanaians. According to Dr. Sulley Gariba, the President is also placing above ethnic preferences, competence with the reshuffle. All the ten regions are being headed by ministers who come from different regions in a reshuffle made by the President on Monday evening. Critics say the development shows that the President lacks control and isn�t sure of what he wants. But Dr. Sulley Gariba speaking to XYZ News said those assertions are misplaced. �The President gave two fundamental reasons; the first one is that it is part of his vision to ensure the coordination of the single purpose developmental agenda for this country. �A developmental agenda which is without prejudice of tribe or ethnicity and therefore he felt it imperative to ensure that the leadership of the regional coordinating council is dispassionately national in character. �The second one was to ensure national unity�he wants to demonstrate that the ten people he appointed do not only come from the regions of their origin, they have fundamental skills and competencies that are useful for national development� Dr. Sulley Gariba said. But a Political Science Lecturer Aminu Dramani says the timing of the reshuffle is questionable. According to him, it is surprising why the President didn�t implement his national cohesion policy earlier as of the time he was making the appointments. Also a Local Government expert, George Kyei Baffour says he sees no relevance between the reshuffle and the President�s assertion that the movements are meant to enhance local governance in the various regions.