110 Ministers: Akufo Addo is suffering from 'pirate mentality' - Pratt

Prior to a government coming to power, a lot of sponsorships are sought for by party executives. Organisations and various personalities ‘sow’ monies into the party’s campaign programme hoping to "harvest" after the party come to power.

They expect that once they helped the party to come to power, they should be rewarded with appointments or contracts; a situation Kwesi Pratt describes ‘pirate mentality’.

Contributing to a panel discussion on Radio Gold’s Alhaji and Alhaji, Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper stated that President Akufo Addo is suffering from the effects of pirate mentality.

According to him, the President’s appointment of 110 ministers is as a result of pirate mentality.

“The constitution has not been violated but I think there is still something wrong. This appointment reflects the weight of pressure that is being put on the President…there is massive pressure no matter the party which wins the election by supporters and sympathisers to be given something. The pirate mentality is deeply entrenched in our politics; that is where the problem is. I helped you to come to power, therefore, I need to be rewarded. This is the bottom of the issue.

It is the extent to which leaders are able to handle that pressure that shows leadership qualities…indeed this is the highest number of ministers in our history; not in the fourth republic. It, therefore, means that pressure which stems out from a pirate mentality has been worst managed this time. 110 ministers are too many given our current circumstance. I don’t know what the president can do about it but if he is leading a listening government, he must watch out”.

Meanwhile, Kwesi Pratt has also urged President Akufo Addo ‘to put his foot down’ and better manage the pressures.