Mahama's Reshuffle: ‘Three-wise-men to go’

President John Dramani Mahama is steadily living to his pledge of being a listening leader who is not afraid to make amends whenever the occasion demands. This has found expression in his latest decision to include some important constituents in his administration in a yet-to-be-announced ministerial reshuffle.

Earlier this year, the President had to beat a hasty retreat when a decision to rename the seat of government to Jubilee Flagstaff House didn’t find favour with his party members. Then again when his administration’s attempt to facilitate a pilgrimage to Israel for some Ghanaian Christians was very much criticized, the government buckled.

We can go on and on, the recent one being the government’s decision to stagger further utility tariffs as announced by a constitutional body, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) but which met strong public resistance with organized labour who threatened to embark on industrial actions.

Information reaching this paper indicates that President Mahama, as part of efforts aimed at re-invigorating and revamping his nearly one-year-old tottering administration is about to chalk another feat following his resolve to address concerns raised by his party’s grassroots and hierarchy with the inclusion of some experienced party apparatchiks and ‘Mills men’.

As part of the forthcoming overhaul of his government, President John Mahama, according to our usual reliable source close to the presidency, is also expected to announce the scrapping of the position of the ‘three Wisemen’, a special ‘taskforce’ charged with the implementation of the president’s priority projects comprising the trio: E.T Mensah, Alban Bagbin and Cletus Avoka, the project will now be solely superintended by the smooth orator and senior party member, Mr. P.V Obeng, who will be ably assisted by another old guard of the PNDC/NDC stock, Dr Steven Ayidiya, acting as the Secretary/Coordinator.

The three senior party members, our investigation has further revealed, would be drafted into government and assigned major responsibilities expected to assist the Mahama government overcome some of the challenges it is currently faced with.

President Mahama, according to our source, is also likely to bring on board his young government three other experienced hands in the persons of Hon. Mike Allen Hammah, former Lands and Natural Resources minister, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo, former Local government minister and the late president Mills’ former Communication Director at the Osu Castle, Mr Koku Anyidoho, who is presently ensconced at the National security.

Our investigations further indicated we are most likely to see movements in the top echelon of the National Security. The Director of BNI, Yaw Donkor, a native of Krachi in the Volta Region is to be elevated to the coveted position of Security Capo. His place is to be taken by one of his two deputies, Mr John Dogbwa or Pius Awolenga.

The fate of National Security Co-ordinator, Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey remains unclear as he, together with his two deputies still have their Curriculum Vitae on the tables of Council of State members possibly for reassignment. However, embattled National Security Advisor, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah, initially penciled for a new post, Presidential Advisor on Human security, is said to be on his way out of government.

Mr. Fifi Kwetey, the enterprising politician with the gift of oratory and pragmatism is likely to make a return to the Finance Ministry as a minister of state.

Ironically, despite his harsh verbal attacks on radio against his political opponents, Mr Kwetey is said to be very popular among the ordinary workers and technocrats of the finance ministry, who are praying for his return to the ministry after partnering Dr. Kwabena Duffuor together with the current finance minister, Mr. Seth Terker as deputies, to achieve the longest sustained single digit inflation in the nation’s history.

President Mahama, our source disclosed, seems to have a change of mind with regards to the job of the Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at the office of the President, Dr Tony Aidoo, as he is reported to have asked him to continue in his position.

Tony Aidoo recently made headlines when he publicly criticized the presidency for starving his office of the needed resources to function. There have been media reports suggesting President Mahama intends to scrap that office with Dr Aidoo penciled for ambassadorial posting.