Ministers chill in Brazil

Some Ministers of State in President John Mahama’s administration are cooling off in Brazil as they watch the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

Scores of ministers have virtually deserted their posts just to watch football and be part of the merrymaking in Brazil.

At a time Ghana is facing economic crisis and the ordinary citizen is clutching every straw for survival, the ministers and several government appointees are having fun in faraway Brazil.

They include the Interior Minister, Kwesi Ahwoi, whose backyard is on fire over the callous murder of the Paramount Chief of the Bimbilla Traditional Area and four of his aides.

The Interior Minister is in charge of internal security of the country.

“It is surprising to see government officials who should have worked tirelessly to fix the economy, rather deciding to leave the country and have fun in another country,” observed a political pundit who did not want to be identified.

The list is tall with some ministers, government appointees, Council of State members, National Democratic Congress (NDC) activists blowing time at the expense of the poor taxpayer.

Apart from the Minister of Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who is officially heading the Ghana contingent, DAILY GUIDE spotted Deputy Minister of Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa at the stadium during Ghana’s game with USA in Natal Monday evening.

The paper also sighted Deputy Minister of Information, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, dressed in national colours and acting like a supporter of the senior national team.

Also in Brazil is the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Chief Executive, Kojo Bonsu; his boss, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Samuel Sarpong; GNPC Board Chairman and the Ahwoi brothers.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that other several top government functionaries are all in Brazil to witness the Mundial.

SSNIT board chairman and Rector of the University of Professional Studies, Joshua Alabi; NDC National Organiser, Yaw Boateng Gyan; an NDC Vice Chairman, Danny Anang, are all part of the fanfare in Brazil.

Hundreds of soccer fans, predominantly NDC supporters, are being sponsored by the government with intent to support the Black Stars. In addition, ambassadors who were former soccer and current showbiz stars are in Brazil to watch the World Cup at the instance of the state.

Apart from those sponsored by the Ministry of Sports, the headline sponsors of the Black Stars, GNPC, is said to have flown some people for the tournament.

The ministers and the government appointees are said to be lodging in plush hotels at huge costs.

Most of the soccer fans who spoke to the paper at Natal – where the Black Stars played their first game – said they were not comfortable with the huge presence of government appointees.

Even when the team lost to the United States, supporters were treated to street jams with highlife icons like Amanzeba Nat Brew and Gyedu Blay Ambolley thrilling them Wednesday night, at the Entertainment Centre in the Central City of Natal.

The duo, who was part of the entertainment package planned for Ghanaian football fans in Brazil, served the fans with their brand of songs that kept them dancing all night.

Though the package was primarily meant for Ghanaians, there was a huge presence of Brazilians, Mexicans, Japanese and other nationals in Natal, the capital city of Rio Grande do Norte (Great River of the North).

Ambulley, who had the longest session with the fans in the night, treated them to his ‘Simadwa’ music.

The daily concerts for the fans, according to GNA information, had Rebeca (Becca) Acheampong performing on Thursday.