As the administration of John Dramani Mahama prepares to form a formidable team to prosecute the second part of the Better Ghana Agenda, which hinges on education, health and energy, various knowledgeable persons or interest groups also want to ensure that the new government succeeds by making the right choices of people who will occupy certain sensitive positions.
Indeed, some might describe it as lobbying; others will describe it as just alerting the powers that be on who best qualifies for a particular ministerial position, and by extension, effectively prosecute the second part of the Better Ghana Agenda.
One sector that is really crucial to the development of the country, but which, for some strange reasons, appears to have been neglected, is the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.
Some highly respected labour experts close to the presidency tell this paper that, the ministry really needs someone who understands labour issues and has the expertise to ensure a smooth rapport between government and organized labour.
A source at the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), one of the organizations that fight for the rights of workers, told this paper that, the current Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Antwi Bosiako Sekyere, is the ideal man for the ministry.
According to the source, in view of the critical role played by organized labour, the employment ministry deserves a very competent and an industrial relations expert who will not ignore issues raised by organized labour in view of his background, but will also co-operate with them an all sensitive matters.
Mr. Antwi Bosiako has been a Deputy Minister for that sector since 2009 and he has managed to keep his position in spite of the several reshuffles that have hit the Ministry over the years. Ministers who had the privilege to man the Ministry under the late President Mills’ administration are Mr. Amoanor Quao, E.T Mensah and currently Moses Asaga.
The sources believe that, the experience gained over the last four years coupled with his vast knowledge and expertise in industrial relations and human resource management, Mr. Antwi Bosiako, is the best man for the job.
A source at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) also told this paper that, it is about time a technical person headed the employment Ministry, warning that, frequent changes do not auger well for consistency as far as the Better Ghana Agenda (2) is concerned.
A glance through the Curriculum Vitae of Mr. Antwi Bosiako Sekyere reveals that, he is an experienced Human Resource Specialist with an excellent and varied record of employment. He confirms on the CV that, he has particular interest and expertise in Human Resource Development.
The Deputy Minister also has an enviable educational record on his CV. He has a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management from the University of Salford as well as Msc in Human Resource Development from the Manchester University.
He also worked as an inspector of taxes at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).Apart from his impeccable educational and work record, he is also a staunch NDC member. He was once the Chief of Staff at the Office of then Candidate Mills from 2007 to 2009. He is also a staunch cadre in the late eighties until the country opted for a democratic rule in 1992.
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