Posted: Daily Guide | Wednesday, 16 February 2011
www.dailyguideghana.com
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
In what looks like another musical chairs ministerial reshuffle, President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills has reshuffled his Deputy Ministers, swapping some of them while bringing on a few fresh limbs.
He also dropped two and rewarded a man who just last Friday floated an organisation to champion support for his re-election, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi.
Key among those affected by yesterday’s reshuffle are Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mohammed Ahmed Baba Jamal, the man who proclaimed Jihad during the Akwatia by-election, replacing James Agyenim-Boateng as one of the two Deputy Ministers of Information.
This was contained in press release signed by Secretary to the President, J.K. Bebaako-Mensah, sent to the media yesterday.
It is not too clear why Baba Jamal is being brought to a delicate ministry as Information considering his intemperate nature; but some believe that he was being sent there to do the government’s hatchet job which Agyenim-Boateng, who heads for the Tourism Ministry as Deputy Minister, could not do.
Just a week ago, Baba Jamal, who had hints of his possible dismissal from government, rallied Eastern Regional Youth Organisers of the NDC to drum up support for him in order for the President to maintain him.
They appeared to have succeeded, but it is not clear if he can get on well with the people at the Ministry, especially Stan Dogbe, the de facto Minister at the Information Ministry.
Mr Agyenim-Boateng, a final year student at the Ghana School of Law, is replacing Kobby Acheampong, a man noted for making unfounded allegations, who is taking over from newly appointed Eastern Regional Minister, Dr. Kwasi Akyem Apea-Kubi as Deputy Interior Minister.
Former Presidential Spokesman, Mahama Ayariga, who was made Deputy Trade Minister not too long ago, swaps positions with Dr J.S Annan, Deputy Minister of Education, who has been accused by the President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Anthony Abotsi-Afriyie, of meddling in typical student affairs.
President Mills however decided to bring in some fresh limbs to justify his claim of 2012 being an ‘action year’, with the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfantsiman West, Aquinas Tawiah Quansah heading for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development as an additional Deputy.
He joins Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah as Deputy Minister whilst Member of Parliament for Trobu-Amasaman, Ernest Attuquaye Armah, has also been appointed Deputy Minister of Communication and set to go and face the Appointments Committee of Parliament for vetting anytime soon, like his colleague Aquinas Quansah.
The President however decided to relieve two persons, Gideon Quarcoo and Betty Bosomtwe-Sam, of their jobs as Deputies for Communication and Western Region respectively.
Though the statement did not state explicitly, Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed to DAILY GUIDE that the President has shown them the exit, but did not say why, since it is subject to the President’s personal discretion.
Typical of a job-for-the-boys scenario, the President also decided to reward Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, a Biochemistry lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and failed NDC Parliamentary candidate for Oforikrom constituency in the 2008 elections, who recently formed the ‘Get Atta Mills Elected’ group.
He has been given a juicy appointment as Deputy Eastern Regional Minister to replace Baba Jamal, whilst District Chief Executive (DCE) for Shama, Emelia Arthur, has been appointed Deputy Western Regional Minister, replacing Betty Bosomtwi-Sam, a victim of foot-soldiers’ agitation. She was accused of having poor human relations with foot-soldiers.
President Mills also made the following appointments of District Chief Executives (DCEs)- Apraku Lartey, Tano North; and Atta Bosompem, Asunafo South, both in the Brong Ahafo Region.
In the Ashanti Region, he appointed Solomon Agyei-Mensah and Samuel Asiamah DCEs for the Sekyere East and Sekyere Afram Plains respectively, whilst Reginald Asamoah Osae takes the position of DCE for Kwaebibirim District Assembly in the Eastern Region.