Akufo-Addo’s reshuffle “most useless” ever – Amaliba

A member of the legal team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abraham Amaliba, has described Akufo-Addo’s maiden reshuffle as the “most useless ever.”

President Akufo-Addo made 15 changes to his government by re-aligning some ministers on Thursday.

Deputy Information Minister Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah was promoted to the substantive position of Information Minister. Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, who used to be the Minister for Information, has been reassigned to man the Ministry for Inner City and Zongo Development, once occupied by Boniface Abubakar Saddique, who has been made a Minister of State at the Office of the Vice President.

Otiko Afisa Djaba has been relieved of her position as the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and made an Ambassador-designate to Italy. Cynthia Morrison, Member of Parliament for Agona West constituency, is now Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection-designate.

Speaking on Morning Starr with Francis Abban on Friday, August 10, 2018, Mr. Amaliba said he expected the president to fire some non performing ministers instead of re-aligning them.

“It’s the most useless reshuffle ever,” Mr. Amaliba spewed.

“People we know who have not performed have been elevated. [Kofi] Adda has not performed. You make Otiko [Djaba] a diplomat? With her temperament. You are sending Otiko to be a diplomat; is a joke,” the opposition communication member stated.

He added: “One expected the president to have heeded the cry of Ghanaians by reducing his ministers looking at the dire strait of the economy.

“It is one of the useless reshuffles I’ve ever seen. Have you noticed that this government is full of his family members? The last time I checked they were about 45. Has he touched any of them?

“Nothing will change and we’re going back to square one. The economy is in dire strait and I’ll no longer call for a ministerial reshuffle.”

Below is the full list

PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO MAKES CHANGES TO HIS GOVERNMENT

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;

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

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

1. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, former Minister for Aviation, is now Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources;

1. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former Minister for Information, is now Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development;

1. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Member of Parliament for Ofoase/Ayirebi constituency and former Deputy Minister for Information, is now Minister for Information designate;

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

1. Paulina Tangoba Abayage, former Ambassador to Italy, is now Upper East Regional Minister designate;
2. Evans Opoku Bobie, Member of Parliament for Asunafo North constituency and former deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, is now Brong Ahafo Regional Minister designate;
3. Martin Oti Gyarko, Member of Parliament for Techiman North constituency, is now Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister designate;

1. 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;

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

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

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

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

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.

Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM