Shipping ‘temperamental’ Otiko to Ghana’s Italian Mission a diplomatic ‘joke’ - Amaliba

Legal Practioner and Member of the Communication Team of the opposition NDC has said President Akufo-Addo made a joke of diplomacy by appointing someone he calls ‘temperamental’ as Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy, MyNewsGH.com can report.

President Akufo-Addo announced a reshuffle in which not so major changes were made to his government. Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister, Otiko Afisah-Djaba was moved. She is now Ambassador-designate to Italy. Her replacement, Hon Cynthia Morrison, MP for Agona West, is now the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection-designate.

But Abraham Amaliba, speaking on Morning Starr with Francis Abban on Friday, August 10, 2018, said he didn't expect President Akufo-Addo to appoint Madam Otiko Djaba to the Ghanaian Embassy in Italy.

“It’s the most useless reshuffle ever,” Mr. Amaliba charged on the reshuffle.

“You make Otiko [Afisah Djaba] a diplomat? With her temperament. You are sending Otiko to be a diplomat?… It is a joke!” he thundered to Francis Abban.

He chided the president for retaining ministers he was of the opinion were non-performers.

“People we know who have not performed have been elevated. [Kofi] Adda has not performed.” Amaliba assessed.

On what he expected, he said: “One expected the president to have heeded the cry of Ghanaians by reducing his ministers looking at the dire strait of the economy.”

He described the entire reshuffle as ‘useless’, accusing the president of not touching any of his relatives.

“It is one of the useless reshuffles I’ve ever seen. Have you noticed that this government is full of his family members? The last time I checked they were about 45. Has he touched any of them?

“Nothing will change and we’re going back to square one. The economy is in dire strait and I’ll no longer call for a ministerial reshuffle.”