Public views of Mahama’s reshuffle: Cosmetic and uninspiring

President John Dramani Mahama last week announced a couple of ministerial changes, in what is seen as his response to criticisms and agitations to make some changes to his Cabinet. While the decision to make changes did not surprise many, the changes themselves have raised eye-brows with some political pundits describing it as a ministerial recycle, ministerial musical chairs, and perhaps more aptly, ministerial 'much ado about nothing'. Some have even gone as far as likening the recent reshuffle to that of an amateur football coach making changes.

Many political observers, including from academia, appear unenthused about the recent ministerial changes because they have centred on deputy ministers rather than the substantive ministers, and to a limited extent on regional ministers.

Some say the changes will have no impact on the performance of government, especially in the economic sphere, which indeed is the basis for the numerous calls for a reshuffle. It is argued that deputy ministers do not take decisions and make policies on their own, rather the substantive ministers do, and so if there should be any changes at all, those changes should affect the substantive ministers.

Dr Loyld Amoah, a senior lecturer at the Ashesi University, in an interview with Public Agenda, indicated that the President had the prerogative to appoint ministers who can help him deliver. However, he said, the premium placed on the deputy ministerial positions, as reflected in the recent reshuffle, is misplaced, as they (the deputy ministers) reserved very minimal influence in policy decision making.

Some of the nominations made by the President are Mrs Mona Helen K. Quartey, a risk management and corporate finance expert, to be vetted to become a Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning; Mr Rickets-Hagan, former Deputy Minister for Finance moved to the Ministry of Trade and Industry as a Deputy Minister; Mr Acquinas Quansah moves from the Ministry of Fisheries and Aqua Culture as a Deputy Minister, to the Central Region as the Regional Minister.

Others are Mrs Dela Sowah as Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Gender, Children & Social Protection; Dr Victor Asare Bampoe as Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Health; Benita Sena Okity –Duah is moving from the Gender Ministry as Deputy Minister to be a Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture; Dr. Alfred Tia Sugri is also going to the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation as a Deputy Minister.

In its Friday, April 25, 2014 edition, Public Agenda, after admitting disappointment in a cabinet it had rated as B+, issued its dream team to reverse Ghana's declining fortunes. In its analysis, the paper called for the removal of Hon. Seth Terkper because it felt, and still thinks the ministry requires fresh economic thinking. It also called for the removal of the Deputy Minister, Kwaku Rickets-Hagan, and for the maintenance of the other deputy, Hon. Casel Ato Forson, an impressive performer. Though two of the paper's wishes are reflected in the changes at the Finance Ministry, we believe the Mahama administration would have done itself a lot of good if it had introduced a macro-economist rather than a corporate finance person to the Finance team.

Another Ministry which remained untouched but needs a massive shake-up is that of Energy. In our analysis, we called for the removal of the sector minister, Hon. Armah Kofi Buah. Mr Buah, as earlier indicated, lacks the technical competence and experience required for the sector, which also stands in need of fresh thinking on how to sustainably resolve the country's energy challenges.

The movement of Mrs Benita Sena Okity-Duah, a former beauty queen and Deputy Minister at the Gender Ministry, to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, underpins the uninspiring nature of the reshuffle. Mrs Okity-Duah, apart from having her competence and her abilities questioned as a result of the Vicky-leak Saga, made minimal to no impact when she was a deputy minister at the Gender Ministry. Many will argue that she was not given the room to operate in her former ministry, but Mrs Okity-Duah in person, does not come off as somebody with an enthusiastic and inspiring persona.

Until she became a Deputy Minister, her last employment was with Benita Sewing Solutions of which she was the CEO. She holds a Diploma in Fashion Design Technology from the London College of Fashion; Certificate in Governance and Leadership, GSGL, Accra; and an ongoing combined degree and MBA programme (Leadership and Sustainability) at the Robert Kennedy College, a private university in Switzerland.

In sum, nothing really has and will change if Mahama decides to end his reshuffle here, and to stick with his current crop of ministers – that is the verdict Public Agenda makes from expert analysis and comments so far.