Benjamin Kofi Quashie, South African Council of Elders Chairman of the National Democratic Congress has bemoaned the president’s decisions of filling ministerial vacancies within his government instead of total reshuffling to reduce the number of his ministers.
President Akufo-Addo has asked Parliament to approve some persons he has nominated to fill vacancies in his government due to the resignation of some ministers. He has also reshuffled some deputy ministers.
In the view of Mr. Quashie, who is also the Group Chairman of Allied Consortiums, the president hasn’t broken any law regarding filling the vacancies within his government arising from resignation but, “I’m sorry to say governance is sometimes the application of common sense. There are technocrats who could step in so why appoint new ministers?” he quizzed.
He argued that, the president is running this country as if he is running his personal business and this, he said, is not right.
“How can he go on a profligate spending and let the citizens suffer. Has he broken any law?” he questioned sorrowfully. He wondered what K. T. Hammond who has been appointed to the Trade and Industry Ministry is bringing on board that would help in these IMF negotiations.
He quizzed, “Is it that during the censure motion for the finance minister, he did a good job for the party so, he’s been rewarded for that?”
The South Africa NDC Council Chair argued further that, the Trade and Industry Ministry has substantive deputies, why K. T. Hammond? What new is he bringing on board and why not elevate some of the deputies?
“From the way things are going it appears the president isn’t taken anything serious. If the president wants Ghanaians to take a haircut, it would only be prudent for him not or add on to his ministers but, to rather promote his deputies to avoid swelling up his ministerial numbers.
“This was a fine opportunity for the president to show leadership. Be the first to take steps that would let the citizenry know that, the president is doing something worthwhile”, Mr. Benjamin Quashie stated.
He added, in these times of haircut on people’s investments, “You don’t bungle around ministers who have resigned and put in new ministers there. What do you expect of the tax payer”.
The Allied Consortiums Chairman was speaking to Blessed Sogah on the ‘Pulse Show’ on Joy News, on February 7, 2023 assessing the appointments of new ministers by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
In sum, Mr. Benjamin Quashie underlined the fact that, “Even though there hasn’t been any scientific proof as to whether a lean or large size government delivers, we’re not in normal times and this has been rehashed by many people to this government. The bureaucrats, technocrats, people have spoken and the president must listen”.
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