Muntaka In More Trouble

lhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, former Minister for Youth and Sports, is out of the system, but his last public pronouncements on what led to his political demise is likely to halt the entire government machinery, if nothing is done from the apex of political power.

The embattled former minister, minutes after he was compelled to resign after his moral lifestyle was questioned by a Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) report, described Chief Directors at the various ministries as an unreliable lot, who should never be trusted.“My fellow ministers, I made myself a sacrificial lamb. In the name of God, that saying that ‘your Chief Director is your chief advisor’ is a fallacy. Don’t just trust anybody,” Muntaka had said.

He went ahead to insinuate that the same Chief Directors have now become conduits being used to destroy politicians by framing them up with scandals. But signals filtering in indicate that those insulting statements could henceforth place government in a watertight compartment as some aggrieved directors are not taking things lightly. Though initially viewed as the utterances of a frustrated politician, Daily Guide has reliably gathered that the Asawase MP’s statement has not only sent ripples in government circles, but incurred the wrath of many Chief Directors in the country, some of whom have vowed not to play ball with their political bosses any longer.

Some of them told the paper in confidence that they will no longer cover any mess created by any political head, and that if it becomes necessary, they would insist on the presentation of an approved requisition before they even release a pen for the minister to use. Fuming with rage, some of them recalled how they had continued to hold government intact during military coup d’état and political transitions and are dismayed at this slap in the face by Muntaka, adding that the non-response of the Mills Administration is worsening matters. “As Senior Civil Servants, we have put our lives on the line to prevent the country from collapsing by holding the fort whenever there is a political vacuum. Today, we are all being branded thieves by politicians, and surprisingly, government is silent over the allegation.

“If we really want to deal with them according to the books, no ministry will function in this country. We have learnt our lessons, and we will act appropriately,” one of them told the paper in an exclusive interview. Another director in a sensitive ministry said there are times some of them save their bosses by doing everything possible to cover the messes the ministers create, and lamented that when for once they are unable to cover the rot, they are branded an unreliable lot. According to him, he had been in the Civil Service for over three decades, and passed through several governments in the past, but had never been so arrogantly insulted by a disgraced politician the way Muntaka did.“This man’s comment is destroying the Civil Service, I can tell you, and if those who put him there fail to act, then it is their cup of tea”.

It is recalled that Alhaji Muntaka, after he was entangled in the ‘pampers and khebab’ brouhaha and had no option but to resign, blasted directors of the various ministries and went on to advise his colleagues to be wary of how they deal with them if they want to succeed as politicians. Interestingly however, while Muntaka was advising his former colleagues to be mindful of others, the Office of the President was also appealing to other political appointees to take vital lessons from the immoral behavior of the former minister. In announcing his resignation, the presidential spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga said: “His Excellency the President is dissatisfied with the conduct of the Minister in his decision to embark on the German trip with Ms. Edith Zinayela and in particular in his decision to apply for a visa for her in circumstances that amounted to a mis-description of her official position.

The decision of the Ministry to pay for Ms. Zinayela’s visa fee was equally improper. It was an error of judgment on the part of the Minister, from which it is hoped all other appointees will learn. Meanwhile, birds have whispered to Daily Guide that some directors are planning to take the matter up to the Head of Civil Service, Joe Issachar, and possibly register their protest.