Mills To Drop Bagbin, Mould, Smith, Nii Armah Ashietey & Others

Credible information picked up by The Herald suggest that barring any unforeseen circumstances, President John Evans Atta Mills will today announce the sacking of some of his key ministers from his government, while bringing on board fresh hands to help him steer the state machine towards the completion of his last year in office.

Last Friday, saw a tense one-on-one by President Mills with some of his ministers at the Castle. Those dropped, according to The Herald’s sources, left the seat of government very dejected.

Details are sketchy but among the names picked up as having been dropped are the Works and Housing Minister, Alban S. Bagbin, Education Minister, Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, Defence Minister, Lt. General Joseph Henry Smith and Greater Accra Regional Minister Nii Armah Ashietey.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Martin Amidu, whose poor human relations and lack of team work at his present portfolio, is also taking him out of government, The Herald learnt.

Energy Minister, Oteng Adjei is also billed to go out. Hannah Tetteh is also billed to be moved to another ministry. It has also been revealed that Dr Ekow Spio Gabrah is now stepping onto the field of government to serve as Communication Minister, while incumbent Communication Minister Haruna Iddrisu, moves to Parliament to serve as the youngest Majority Leader, displacing Mr Cletus Avoka, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the Zebilla Constituency.

Also mentioned to be stepping in is Mr Lee Ocran, a former MP for the Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region. Insiders revealed he is being recalled from South Africa to serve as Defence Minister.

Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, is also being replaced by Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, who had been at the Castle as a Minister of State.

Health Minister, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, is also taking a seat at the Castle as a Minister of State at the presidency. Joe Gidisu of the Roads Ministry, was bound for the Works and Housing to replace Bagbin, but the decision was later rescinded.

The sacking of the non-performing ministers had long been overdue. Indeed, President Mills was expected to have done it weeks after the NDC congress in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Meanwhile, signals picked up at the Castle suggest there will be shake-ups at certain departments and state agencies as well.

More to come!