Mills And NDC In Deadlock

The long-awaited cabinet reshuffle in the Mills Administration may have to be postponed following the inconclusive outcome of a crisis meeting between the President and some big-wigs of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Castle on Wednesday. The meeting, which was at the instance of the President and was intended to sort out some of the concerns of his critics, included some NDC National Executive Committee members, elders, and other leading members of the party. Also present were the Majority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Alban Bagbin, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, National Organizer and Eastern regional Minister, Ama Benyiwaa-Doe, National women�s organizer and Central regional Minister and the Ahwoi brothers-Ato, Kwesi and Kwamena. Sources at the Castle told Daily Guide that both the founder, Jerry John Rawlings, and chairman of the council of elders, Harry Sawyer, were conspicuously absent. Former president Rawlings and Mr. Sawyer had been critical of the governance style and speed of the President. While Daily Guide could not scoop out any tangible reason for the absence of the founder and former president Rawlings, word from the meeting said- Mr. Harry Sawyer was absent due to health reasons. A statement issued late yesterday said the meeting was frank, constructive and cordial, even though no firm conclusions were reached, apart from a resolve to make government-party interaction more regular. The President�s spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga, told newsmen he was not aware of any looming cabinet reshuffle. Even though he hinted that both the party and Parliament had been adequately represented, he pleaded that the media should spare him of details of proceedings, that the media should spare him or details of proceedings. Unconfirmed reports, however, indicated that high on the agenda was the imminent cabinet reshuffle, but with the absence of leading members, the sources speculated that the announcement could be delayed a few more weeks. Insiders say the Chief of Staff, Henry Martey Newman, could be removed from office because of agitations by foot soldiers and Castle staff. The source hinted that even though many people are being considered to take over from him, Hannah Tetteh, Trade and Industry Minister, may carry the day. It will be recalled that barely five weeks ago, some 22 NDC constituency chairmen called for the head of Martey Newman, saying he had not given them access to the President. Media reports at the time said his �inefficiency� had been a source of worry to the President and bandied the name of Kwamena Ahwoi as replacement. Other names that made the rounds at the time included Paul Victor Obeng, a former Governmental Advisor in the Rawlings Administration who had been sent out of Accra to chair the KNUST Council and Nana Ato Dadzie, a former Chief of Staff under Rawlinsg. For now, the President seems to be keeping his reshuffled list to his chest, but will certainly unveil the new list by the end of January. This will be the first time President Mills will touch the cabinet that has been branded Team B by a section of the ruling NDC.