Akufo-Addo Reshuffle Not 'Earth-Shaking' - Says Kwesi Pratt

The recent reshuffle by President Akufo-Addo does not meet the expectation of Ghanaians, according to the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr.

The President released his first reshuffle on Thursday.

The reshuffle saw Gender Minister Otiko Djaba being transferred to Italy as an Ambassador.

Prior to the release, there were reports of a massive shake-up in the ruling government. However, after the release, some critics who thought the President was going to reduce his 110 appointees felt disappointed.

Kwesi Pratt, who was contributing to a panel discussion on Saturday's edition of Radio Gold's "Alhaji and Alhaji" programme said instead of the "earth-shaking" reshuffle, the President rather added one more appointee.

"There is nothing earth shaking about what has happened…it appears the number has even been increased by one because we have a minister of state at the office of the Vice President. If care is not taken we will have minister of state at the office of the chief of staff…so public expectations has not been met with this reshuffle" he indicated.


Meanwhile, Below is a copy of the statement issued by the presidency announcing the changes

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has made the following changes to the composition of his government, with immediate effect:

1. John Peter Amewu, former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and acting Minister for Energy, Is now Minister for Energy;

2. Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, former Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Is now Minister for Lands and Natural Resources;

3. Hon. Kofi Adda, Member of Parliament for Navrongo constituency and former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, is now Minister for Aviation;

4. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, former Minister for Aviation, Is now Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources;

5. Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid former Minister for Information, Is now Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development;

6. Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Member of Parliament for Ofoase/Ayirebl constituency and former Deputy Minister for Information, Is now Minister for Information designate;

7. Hon. Cynthia Morrison, Member of Parliament for Agona West constituency, is now Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection designate;

8. Paulina Tangoba Abayage, former Ambassador to Italy, is now Upper East Regional Minister designate;

9. Hon. Evans Opoku Bobie, Member of Parliament for Asunafo North constituency and former deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, is now Brong Ahafo Regional Minister designate;

10. Hon. Martin Oti Gyarko, Member of Parliament for Techiman North constituency, is now Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister designate;

11. Hon. Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Member of Parliament for Madina constituency and former Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development, is now Minister of State at the Office of the Vice President;

12. Rockson Bukari, former Upper East Regional Minister, is now Minister of State at the Office of the President;

13. Pius Enam Hadzide, former deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, is now Deputy Minister for Information;

14. Perry Curtis Okudzeto, former deputy Minister for Information, is now Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports; and

15. Otiko Afisa Djaba, former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, is now Ambassador-designate to Italy.

The statement signed and issued by Mr Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the Presidency said: "President Akufo-Addo is hopeful that Parliament will expedite the vetting of the Ministers-designate for Information, and Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Regional Ministers-designate for Upper East and Brong Ahafo, as well as the deputy Regional Minister-designate for Brong Ahafo, so they can assume their respective offices as quickly as possible."