News:
Minority Leader
February 20, 2023
The Minority at a press conference on Monday, February 20, 2023 before the commencement of the workings of the Appointment Committee has said they would participate in the vetting of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s Ministerial nominees.
According to the Minority they would scrutinize the president’s decision in bringing nominees but they would not subscribe to consensus vote at the level of the Appointment Committee, just to ensure the matter is brought to the floor for the full House for a secrete vote to be taken.
The Minority Leader Dr Ato Forson in addressing the media noted that the president a couple of weeks ago announced nominees and wish to make it clear that they remain committed to ensuring greater scrutiny and will spare no effort to protect the public purse.
They are calling for the following:
1. The immediate reduction in the number of Ministers from the current 86 to 65
2. The merger of Ministries
For example, i. Information and Communication
ii. Transport and Railways
iii. Chieftaincy and Tourism
iv. Sanitation and Local government
3. The immediate reduction in the number of political appointees at the Office of the President.
4. Immediate scrapping of all amorphous creations and waste-pipe, job-for-the-boys’ appointments since the assumption of office of President Akufo Addo in 2017. The work of those undefined, amorphous creations must revert to established entities in the civil and public service that perform similar, if not same functions.
Some of these bizarre portfolios at the office of the president are:
1. Youth Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs
2. Policy Associate
3. Chief Executive of Public Sector Reforms
4. Overseer of the National Cathedral
5. Church Relations Manager
6. Diaspora Church Mobilization Officer
7. Policy & Coordinator Analyst
8. Focal Person, La Francophonie
9. Technical Director, La Francophonie
10. Coordinator, Special Development Initiatives Secretariat
11. Director of Special Projects
12. Manager of Operations & Programs
13. 5 Technical Communications Assistants
14. Technical Advisor, Zongo Development Authority
15. 2 Technical Advisors, Special Development Initiatives Secretariat
16. Technical Advisor, Political Affairs
17. Presidential Staffer, NABCO
18. Office Management Executive Associate
19. Technical Director to the Presidential Advisor on Media
20. Data Manager
And finally they reiterated their call for the dismissal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta whose gross incompetence in managing our economy has assumed legendary status. The President must spare Ghanaians the agony of waking up tomorrow to see Ken Ofori-Atta still in charge of the economy.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com