Mills' Job For The Boys

President Professor John Evans Atta Mills has been top-loading his government and appointing two and sometimes many more people to do similar jobs, contrary to his own promises when he was seeking political office!

In the run-up to election 2008, the then opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), headed by then Candidate Atta Mills promised the people of Ghana that they would create a 'lean' government.

Most worryingly, however, it is now fast emerging that far from creating a lean government, the government of President Professor John Evans Atta Mills is appointing two or three and sometimes numerous people to overlook similar sectors of Ghana's national governance!

For example, at the moment, Ghana has a Minister of Finance in the person of Dr. Kwabena Duffuor. He has at least two Deputies, including propaganda expert Mr. Fiifi Kwetey.

However, in addition to these people vetted and approved by the parliament of the Republic of Ghana, President Atta Mills has appointed a solid ten-member Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to 'advice him on key economic policy issues and policy options in managing the impact of the current global and domestic economic challenges and maximizing the full potentials of existing opportunities. The members of the EAC are Dr. Gobind Nankani (as Chairperson), Dr. Togbe Afede XIV, Prof. K. N. Afful, Dr. Emmanuel Ablo, Mr. Paa Kwesi Amissah - Arthur, Dr. K. Y. Amoako, Mr. Joel Hyde, his brother Dr. Cadman Atta Mills, Mr. Ishmael Yamson and Mr. Fred Ohene Kena.

The question that arises, urgently, is whether the Minister of Finance, his two Deputies and even the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, all of whom are mandated by law to advise the President on matters of economic policy, are not learned enough to advise the president on economic policy?

Again, whilst Ghana has a Minister of Foreign Affairs in the person of Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni as well as a Deputy Minister, it recently emerged that the President also has a Special Advisor on Foreign Affairs in the person of Ambassador Victor Gbeho! The question is, does the President lack faith in the ability of Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni to advise him on matters of foreign affairs, and if that is so, why doesn't he appoint his Special Advisor as Minister and save Ghana some cost?

President Professor Atta Mills also has a National Security Coordinator in the person of Lt. Col. Gbevlo-Lartey, but in spite of this, he has also appointed a National Security Advisor in the person of Brig. General Nunnuu Mensah, leading to clear conflict of duties.

Where does Gbevlo-Lartey's remit in National Security end, before General Nunnuu Mensah takes over, and why is one of them not enough to advise the President on matters of national security? The most interesting public sector appointment comes in the area of the public information management of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government. So far the President has appointed a Spokesperson in the person of Mr. Mahama Ayariga, a Communications Director in the person of Mr. Koku Anyidohu, a Minister of Information Minister in the person of Madam Zita Okai Kwei and two Deputy Information Ministers. One must ask, why the clear duplication of labour, with at least five people doing the same work of speaking for government?

Meanwhile, whilst the state has employed a Director of State Protocol, President Professor Atta Mills has also appointed a Director of Protocol at the Office of the President in the person of Mr. Victor Smith, again with clear implications of additional cost for the long-suffering Ghanaian, who was deceived by President Atta Mills that he was going to create a 'lean' government?