They said one of the lessons learnt during their one-month project was the challenge in accessing critical information for their reviews.

“One of the lessons learnt is that, public officials are not very forthcoming when critical information is needed,” said Mr Gideon Sarpong, Co-Founder of Policy and Content Analysis at iWatch Africa.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SQSkh6Tg3o9JUWtdqMdWqhWuyHt2rvjC”]The Project aims at putting a spotlight on government’s promises and monitoring their implementation in communities across Ghana to get more citizens involved in governance in order to hold their leaders accountable, spearheaded by a group of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

Mr. Sarpong, at the closing and evaluation session of the Project, lauded its impact in offering citizens the opportunity to objectively assess the performance of the government through its unified gauge accountability reports.

This, he said, would deepen the democratic process in Ghana, adding that the Project would continue to assess government’s commitments in the 2017 Budget Statement.

The Project reviewed commitments in Health, Education, Government Expenditure and Job Creation during the one month period.

“We look forward to expanding our focus areas to include procurement and SOEs in 2018,” Mr Sarpong said.

He raised concerns about the management of the public purse, which he said was not encouraging after review of several reports by the Auditor General.

“The attorney general has a mandate to recover all monies that were illegally expended,” he noted.

Mr. Sarpong said the iWatch Africa Team was engaging the Ministry of Information to find ways of addressing some of the challenges that they faced during the Project, especially with regard to access to information.

He added that they were also liaising with the Ghana Integrity Initiative on the way forward and how to sustain and scale up the Project in the future.

Ms. Sara V. Stealy, the Press Attaché at the United States’ Embassy in Ghana, commended the team for their hard work and said the focus areas tied in with the Embassy’s work in Ghana.

The use of digital media, including social media on the Project was good for shining the light on the issues identified.

She added that the work of the team represented former President Barack Obama’s vision for the YALI Project.

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Source: GNA

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Speaking on the Point Blank segment on Eyewitness News, Mr. Hamid, who had been a spokesperson for Nana Addo before he became President, said he is convinced serving as the President’s Spokesperson for ten years, would have qualified him to take up another challenge instead of the current position which will still require him to be a communicator.

“To be very honest with you, it is not something that I would have loved to do. Why because I mean of course in life you want to over periods of time take up other challenges so ten years on the job, I thought would have been enough for me to take up another challenge… so my first choice would not have been to be Minister for Information and Presidential Spokesperson.”

He was however quick to add that, he knew why the President chose him for that position, saying “…I also understand him. The fact that I am the person he is sure about, that I understand his thinking on any issue at any time and so on…If I were in his shoes that is what I would have done. I will stick with what I know.”

He further stated that, he did not lobby for the position.

“No I did not ask him, I did not lobby. I guess that the fact that I have spoken for him for ten years, speaks volumes of the fact that he is satisfied.”

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, appointed Mustapha Hamid, as his Minister nominee for Information while announcing the third batch of Ministers nominee at the Flagstaff House on Thursday.

This announcement follows a similar one on Tuesday and Wednesday, which saw persons including Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West constituency, Ursula Owusu, the National Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Otiko Afisa Djaba and Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey being appointed as Minister for Communications, Minister for Gender and Social Protection and Foreign Affairs Minister respectively.

In all, Nana Addo has announced the names of 36 persons for various ministries. He however explained that six of the nominees will serve as Ministers of State at the presidency.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post I would’ve preferred ‘another challenge’ – Mustapha Hamid appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

President Nana Addo made the announcement while announcing the third batch of Ministers nominee at the Flagstaff House on Thursday.

This announcement follows a similar one on Tuesday and Wednesday, which saw persons including Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West constituency, Ursula Owusu, the National Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Otiko Afisa Djaba and Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey being appointed as Minister for Communications, Minister for Gender and Social Protection and Foreign Affairs Minister respectively.

In all, Nana Addo has announced the names of 36 persons for various ministries. He however explained that six of the nominees will serve as Ministers of State at the presidency.

Profile of Mustapha Hamid 

Mustapha Abdul-Hamid is 45 years old. He holds a Diploma in Education, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religious Studies and a Master of Philosophy Degree, also in Religious Studies, all from the University of Cape Coast.

He is presently a Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Cape Coast, where he specializes in the areas of Islam & Gender and Political Thought in Islam.

Prior to taking up teaching, he worked in the media in various capacities as Editor of the High Street Journal, Editor of the Statesman newspaper, News Editor at the then Choice FM and Strategy 4 Planning Manager at Media Majique & Research Systems.

He has published widely in many prestigious academic journals around the world. In politics, he was National Youth Organiser of the NPP from 2002-2005. He has been Spokesperson for the President from 2007 to date. He is married with five children.

Below is the list released for Thursday:

1.Minister for Planning  – Prof. Gyan Baffour (MP for Wenchi)

2.Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts – Catherine Ablema Afeku (MP for Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Constituency)

3.Minister of Information – Mustapha Hamid

4.Minister for Special Development Initiative – Mavis Hawa Koomson (MP for Awutu Senya East)

5.Minister of Youth and Sports – Isaac Asiamah (MP for Atwima Mponua constituency)

6. Minister of Fisheries– Elizabeth Afoley Quaye (MP for Krowor)

7. Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs – Kofi Dzamesi

8. Minister of Aviation – Cecelia Dapaah

9. Minister of Inner cities and Zongo Development- Abubakar Boniface Siddique

10. Minister of Business Development- Awal Mohammed

11. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs – Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu (MP for Suame and Majority Leader)

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

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