Newspaper reports in Accra say there could be a Cabinet reshuffle as the President, John Kufuor and Finance Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo prepare their State of the Nation Address and budget statement to Parliament, respectively.
There are speculations that the President is poised to remove square pegs from round holes to enable him and the new Cabinet to effectively push forward the government’s agenda of “positive change” and bring the needed relief to Ghanaians.
According to a report picked up in the Daily Guide, an Accra-based private daily newspaper, the reshuffle is likely to be effected between the end of this month and early next month. This, reshuffle according to the paper will be a major one, quite different from the last October one which was described as a minor one.
“The president according to a highly-placed source will ask some ministers who have not performed to expectation to give way to other fresh men and women to carry the agenda of positive change through,” the paper says.
Reports say the president is disappointed in some of the trusted NPP faithfuls, whom he thought could easily help him to bring about the needed change, swiftly and with fair impact.
It said if after a year in office those trusted ones having had the opportunity to justify themselves but rather proved to be more of liabilities rather than assets, the presidential axe will fall on them.
“The Daily Guide can say with authority that very sensitive ministries, some of whose ministers claim very close friendship and relationship with the President would be hardest hit by the next reshuffle.”
The paper claims that although it has the list of affected ministers, it is reluctant to make it public because it believes that it is the President’s prerogative to make such ministerial changes.
It however claims Dr. Kwesi Nduom, Minister for Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation who also heads the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Nana Akufo-Addo have distinguished themselves in the Kufuor administration.
The last reshuffle saw the moving of Hon. John Henry Mensah, the then majority leader, to Senior Minister. Papa Owusu-Ankomah moved from the troubled Ministry of Youth and Sports to a more comfortable place like Parliament where he is the leader of the House and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
The then Minister for Media Relations, Ms Elizabeth Ohene became a Minister of State in the Office of the President, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, the then Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs relinquished the position of Chief of Staff and took over the Ministry of Information, in addition to Presidential Affairs.
Bartels who headed the Works and Housing Ministry was moved to the Ministry of Private Sector Development amidst public objection. The Health Ministry went to Dr. Kwaku Afriyie whilst his predecessor, Dr. Richard Anane took over the Roads and Highways portfolio.
A new Ministry of Mines was created and headed by former Roads and Highways Minister, Kwadjo Ajei-Darko MP.
