It 'gets embarrassing' when government says 'we're unaware' – Kojo Oppong Nkrumah

Deputy Minister of Information and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has called on government appointees to desist from actions that embarrass the government and have the potential to bring down the image of the current administration in the eyes of Ghanaians.

According to him, it is becoming embarrassing when you "continuously have to explain" that government is "not aware" of a particular issue, which has incurred the wrath of the public.

“What I can agree with is that this is embarrassing . . . it gets embarrassing as you continuously have to explain that we were not aware of this . . . and I would like to say to all of us as government appointees, Chief Executives, Deputy Ministers, Ministers that these actions we are taking that are embarrassing the government, are the actions that will bring us down in the eyes of the Ghanaian who is watching us and viewing us . . . we are chipping away government’s credibility if we continue to do this . . . ”

His comment follows various actions and decisions of some government agencies especially the payment of TV license (click to read) as well as the compulsory charge of first aid kits by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) (click to read).

Even though government intervened in some of these actions, the former radi broadcaster says it is important for appointees to seek clearance before doing anything.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah who was contributing to a panel discussion on Joy FM’s newsfile programme indicated that “there are a lot of state owned agencies that sometimes forget that the job they are doing is not as of right unto them, they have been appointed into some of these roles by political head . . . if you are going to do something to charge the people some amount of money, it is important in the first place to clear with the channels up . . . It is not the mere fact that you’re a Deputy Minister, a Chief Executive officer of something, then literally you have space to do as you decide”.

According to him, the issue is not whether or not Ghanaians are willing to pay, however “when something doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t make sense no matter how you rap it, toast it, burn it, it doesn't make sense”.

“We cannot continue (with) this level of embarrassment for the government . . . ” he opined.