“He grew up a farm boy in Southwest Georgia, knew his Bible, and understood the call of Jesus to not surround himself with luxuries. He was like us. During the 1976 presidential campaign president Jimmy Carter even carried his own suit Cabe Ode to Jimmy Carter a president pooch of the people and of God” – Rev. Richard Ploch
Besides the similarity of titles, the details here have no similarity with the plot in the American political novel written by Robert Penn Warren based on the charismatic populist governor Willie Stark. You could also disregard the nursery rhyme: “Humpty Dumpty” we set forth to examine some of President Mahama’s appointments, with due respect.
It is only a fortnight ago that His Excellency John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as President. He needed time to build his cabinet. Even though some people in the minority have criticized him for releasing names of ministers “tot-by-tot” some of us understand why he is playing it safe by not doing the ”waa-waa” thing that saw 125 ministers in the previous NPP regime. The President has given himself not more than 60 ministers and “unpatriotic” people are alert waiting for a false step so as to get the chance to criticize the NDC.
With 42 Ministers, some of whom have been vetted, the way is now clear Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson (Finance), John Abdulai Jinapor (Energy and Green Transition), Dominic AkuritingaAyine (Attorney General and Minister of Justice) happened to be the first set to be announced by the President.
Of course, the reasons must be obvious for the speed in which the first set of ministers was made known. The Finance Minister has a lot to do – to fix the economy; halt inflation, strengthen the cedi (improve the exchange rate – from $1.00 = GH¢17.00 to about $1.00 = GH¢10.00; John Jinapor with his expertise in Energy to fix the “dumsor” syndrome; despite the fear that Ghana had only five (5) hours’ worth of fuel stock left (John Jinapor says he was misquoted by the media: “I was specific, I said we had 5 hours of HFO.
I said we had zero hours of DFO for Sunon-Asogli, and it is true … if there is any problem with gas supplies, we are going to lose as much as 370 megawatt in 5 hours’ time … “The Attorney General and Minister of Justice was quickly needed to set the stage for effective justice, for “justice delayed is justice denied”.
We should be glad for the selection of benign Dr. Frank Amoakohene, a medical practitioner as Ashanti Regional Minister. He is welcome to the hot seat of Ashanti Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital; Central Market (Phase 2); Afari Military Hospital, Sewua Hospital, Dualisation of Accra-Kumasi Road highway, Boankra Inland Port, Krofrom Market are waiting.
Of course, as lawyers, we should be enthused about the appointment of one of our own, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare as Minister for Trade, she comes with a wealth of experience. Her attention should be on the “transit trade”.
As for 55-year-old Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South we have personal knowledge about his capabilities and competence. We remember when he was Minister for Trade and we called on him to discuss issues relating to customs procedures. He beckoned “Senior, come and sit close to me, let us have a chat. “He was grateful for the visit and the following week the issue we discussed had been adopted as government official policy. Having once been a NUGS President. He read a major in Sociology like us, and was active in the hall on the hills of Accra where he internalized the hall’s motto by John Donne. On a huge hill, Cragged and steep, Truth stands, and he that will Reach her about must and about must goe”. He is a lawyer and he is astute in learning. He was once Minister for Communication and Minority Leader.
Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, Asawasi MP will definitely make a great impact as Minister of Interior. Hon. OkudzetoAblakwa for Foreign Affairs! We said it and some newspaper would not publish us! Bravo, Young man. You have made your mark in Ghana’s history; your investigative work has yielded very great dividends for Mother Ghana. At the appropriate time, you will be sufficiently rewarded for your love for your people (especially those at Tongu).
We welcome Hon. Puozuing Charles Lwanga as Minister for Upper West Region. This year’s Bar Conference is going to be held in that Region, so he should prepare very well to meet “Issues”, “Bou-Chedid”, “Epilepsy”, “Cocoa Saick”, “Kingdom” and others set out in extenso” You will remember why the Class Prefect, Dr. Adusei Poku ended his preface in the 2023 brochure: “May the class continue to Glitter!”.
Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, the Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development is to head the Constitution Review Committee set up to engage stakeholders to gather views on proposed amendments to the 1992 Constitution and make actionable recommendations to enhance democratic governance in the country. Review the 2010 and 2023 Constitution Review Consultation Committees. The other experts of the 8 member committee are Justice Sophia Adinyira, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court and member of the United Nations Appeal Tribunal; Charlotte Osei, the former Chairperson of the Electoral Commission; Prof. Kwame Karikari; Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication; Godwin Djokoto, a Senior Lecturer of the Ghana School of Law (remember law lecturer E. K. Edzie versus Asare on AIDS to answer questions on “intention” in interpretation) ; Ibrahim Tanko Amadu, an expert in governance, organization and systems development; Dr. Esi Ansah and Dr. Rainer. We hope when the Report is submitted in five months’ time, the President will not hesitate to put in measures for its implementation. This will satisfy Justice Sophia Akuffo, former Chief Justice who said; “I have never agreed with the former President (Nana Akufo-Addo) that the Constitution is so perfect that it doesn’t need to be reviewed. The Constitution, being a living document has to be nursed, nurtured, tweaked and massaged from time to time. We must take a look to see whether it continues in every respect to suit current-day purpose?”
Dr. Randy Abbey has been selected as Ag. Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD (not GNPC as previously rumored). No wonder, this stalwart at Metro TV took a bow from his marvelous work at the TV station, with an open reconciliation of Kwesi Pratt and Kweku Baako and also hooked up former Chief of Staff, Nana Ato Dadzie and Kwadwo Mpiani.
The Minority leader, Afenyo-Markin will criticize Mahama once again for the fewer women representation in the Ministerial appointments. Out of 42 ministers named, there are 35 males and 7 females representing 83.33% and 16.67% respectively. This, Afenyo-Markin thinks, makes nonsense of the Affirmative Action Act. He also criticized the lack of “regional balance” and hinting “ethnicity” as Hon. Agbodza would put it would not help.
For now, the only advice we would give the President is to look at p10 of the Daily Graphic of January 16, 2025 where his room-male, Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, has written “might is not right”.
And what is happening in Bole-Bamboi and Ho? The youth on rampage, what do the youth want? The President is now father-for-all, they must be told.
