In an interview with Citi News, the NDC Greater Accra Regional Organiser, Anthony Nukpenu noted that the Akufo-Addo administration would have been better served improving the ministries the President as described as critical.

When President Nana Akufo-Addo swore in four Ministers of State at the Flagstaff House, he defended the creation of the portfolios which would be based at the presidency saying certain critical sectors needed additional “additional talents” to ensure their success.

But Mr. Nukpenu seemingly rubbished the President’s justification saying the Ministers basically offer little beyond policy direction.

“A minister is to just give political direction. He doesn’t have the technical know-how as to the operations of a ministry. He has the various directors who are trained for the job. The minister is supposed to be an inspiration giving the directive of the government or the president’s policy line so he rallies all the directors and workers to zoom into action and work.”

The Regional Organiser asserted further that “if you go and put a barrage of personalities and you don’t have the mechanisms and the logistics to give to the core technical hands, you are not doing anything.”

“What we need as a country is the various logistics that the people within the sector ministries need to move around and do the effective monitoring and to put in the valuation to make sure we deliver on the what we are doing as to education, health and Agric etc. those are the things we need,” Mr. Nukpenu added.

President Akufo-Addo was heavily criticised when his final batch of ministerial nominations ballooned his government size to 110 ministers and their deputies.

The number included four Ministers of State; Sarah Adjoa Sarfo for Procurement, Professor Kwesi Yankah for Education, Brian Acheampong as a Minister of State and Dr. Nurah Gyeile for the Agriculture.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo’s justification of Ministers of State misplaced – NDC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking as he swore in four Ministers of State at the Flagstaff House, President Akufo-Addo said such critical sectors needed additional “additional talents” to ensure their success.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Nk4ma9QsTg0OXlBztafjra08DMrkIPs2″]President Akufo-Addo was heavily criticised when his final batch of ministerial nominations ballooned his government size to 110 ministers and their deputies.

The number included four Ministers of State; Sarah Adjoa Sarfo for Procurement, Professor Kwesi Yankah for Education, Brian Acheampong as a Minister of State and Dr. Nurah Gyeile for the Agriculture.

Justifying the appointments, President Akufo-Addo said, “In two of the critical ministries, I needed additional talents to ensure the success of those important departments of state.”

“The Ministry of Education is one of the largest in our state machinery, dealing with all aspects of our educational structure from kindergarten to the tertiary level. Each level has its own preoccupations. None more so than at the tertiary stage.”

“By the same token, I think it necessary to strengthen the Ministry of Agriculture. It is obvious that a successful agricultural sector makes for the successful economy,” he added.

According to the President, the missing component at the Agricultural Ministry is “the presence at the centre of the ministry of an experienced politically astute administrator of the agriculture sector who can complement of the ministry.”

President Akufo-Addo has indicated that the problems facing the country; including the decline in the agriculture sector, corruption, the low growth rate of the economy, and the revenue leaks required bold measures to address them.

Thus he feels his large government size is needed to match up to the “unprecedented” challenges that confronted his government.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘Additional talents’ needed to ensure success at critical ministries – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Latest to join the fray is the Tamale South New Patriotic Party (NPP) coalition, which has appealed to President Nana Addo to appoint Yakubu Yussif, the party’s 2016 Parliamentary candidate for Tamale South constituency.

The coalition is convinced Yakubu Yussif has the expertise to serve in Nana Addo’s administration, hence the appeal.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Gkh2M3r9OEE5eqUTqrI8BhenAuMorMC0″]The convener, Alhaji Baba Alhassan at a news conference in Tamale, stated that, “we have observed with great concern as members of the NPP since President Nana Akufo Addo started appointing people to compose his government. It is worth noting that, so far so good. But it is important for us at the grassroots level of the party to raise our concern regarding the appointment of certain figures in the party who have fought tirelessly since day one as members of the Danquah/Busia/Dombo tradition.

“As the appointing authority, we members of the party in the Tamale South Constituency of the Northern Region wish to crave his [President Nana Addo] indulgence as the commander in-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, to consider appointing the 2016 Parliamentary Candidate of the party for the Tamale South Constituency.”

Alhaji Baba Alhassan insisted that, Yakubu Yussif deserved an appointment to re-strategize and wrestle the Tamale South constituency seat from the

“The Tamale South Constituency is the largest constituency among the 31 constituencies in the northern region and for that matter, it is our conviction that, lack of resources always hinders the party’s success in the area.”

“We want to state without any equivocation that, Mr. Yakubu Yussif even before he became the parliamentary candidate, served the party at various levels. To start with, he was a polling station agent for the party during the 1992 elections. As the Parliamentary Candidate, even though the party could not win the seat, he appreciably increased the party’s votes.”

“If he is given any portfolio in government, certainly he will deliver for the Akufo Addo administration. His appointment again will enhance his capacity more, and expose him to partners who can help the party with the needed resources to campaign so far as the 2020 elections is concerned” Alhaji Baba emphasized.

He served notice that the Coalition will eventually petition the President to address their concern.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Group wants failed Tamale South Parliamentary candidate given position appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking to Citi News, Vice President of NAGRAT, Angel Karbonu, said all they expect is for government to work on issues facing the Education sector.

[contextly_sidebar id=”IW0sIn5XnEewZxkWd9TpuyYHRKgPByjZ”]“All that we want as an outcome is that our problems are solved. So for us, we would not be able to comment on whether the number is too large or the number is too small. Whatever strategy that the President decides to adopt, let the general public judge whether the numbers are too high or not. For us, the outcomes will determine.”

Outlining some of the issues they expect to be addressed, he said “There are things to do with remuneration, things to do with compensation, things to do with arrears, conditions of service, infrastructure and environmental deficit, bloated class sizes and so on and so forth.”

Following President Akufo-Addo’s final nominations, the Education Ministry has four ministers;  two deputies, a Minister of State and a substantive minister.

The two deputies are Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and Barbara Ayisi, with the Minister of State at the Ministry of Education in charge of Tertiary Education, being Professor Kwesi Yankah, and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the sector Minister.

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By: Farida Shaibu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We’re interested in problem solving; not gov’t size – NAGRAT appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“I don’t believe that my government in the Fourth Republic has big numbers in view of the swollen challenges,” the President said in an interview with the Daily Graphic and Ghana Television.

[contextly_sidebar id=”0a4rqgfvgBJYoKNMhLHswo29AoUUkuMT”]President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday nominated 50 deputies and 4 others to serve as Ministers of State at the presidency and ministries, bringing his total number of ministers to 110, the highest in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

The President reiterated that the initial justification from his government which has insisted that, the weak nature of the economy, required a competent army.

President Akufo-Addo said the problems facing the country, including the decline in the agriculture sector, corruption, the low growth rate of the economy, and the revenue leaks required bold measures to address them.

“These are the background and the circumstances that were facing my government and the people of Ghana, hence they need a new paradigm shift to solve the problems,” he stated.

In President Akufo-Addo’s view, the end will justify the means, as he assured that his government was going to work for the people.

“We have a problem, and what is the best way? It is better to have men and women capable of serving the nation’s interests and to work to grow the economy… If I succeed, you will soon find out the brouhaha is nothing compared to the success.”

All hands needed for ‘huge challenges’

“I don’t believe that any government in the fourth republic has inherited the challenges that my government has inherited, President Akufo-Addo stressed to justify his 110 ministers.

“We are talking about a country with a 74 percent GDP-to-debt ratio, a GHc 2.4 billion debt overhang in the energy sector, persistent decline in growth rate, lowest rate of 2.6 percent growth rated in the agriculture sector over the past 20 years, widespread unemployment, the major issue of corruption and the persistent leakage of revenue in our system.”

Given the “huge challenges”, President Akufo-Addo said it was his assessment that enough hands are needed.

“We need the cooperation of my party and my country that will allow me to deal with all these issues, and already the signs are that, this government in spite of these huge challenges, has begun to put some order in the circumstances of our country,” he stated.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post I need men for unprecedented challenges – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“…instead of a lean government, we have lean kenkey at a higher price, these are the issues which the….government and its activists should be tackling instead of seeking to divert attention with threats, intimidation, assaults, car-snatching, seizure of lorry parks and toilet grabbing”. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, May 2009.

The above statement from Nana Akuffo Addo was made after John Atta Mills, the then President, was accused of appointing a bloated government of 74 Ministers in 2009.

On March 15, 2015. Daily Guide, Communication Director of NPP, Nana Akomea, accused John Mahama of illogical appointments after his total ministerial appointment was 85 Ministers.
He categorically stated,“….it is intriguing that a social democratic party like the National Democratic Congress(NDC) has abandoned its ‘lean government’ promise in the wake of the socio-economic crisis in the country………..what Ghana needs is institutional reforms and not illogical ministerial appointments.”

The New Patriotic Party, NPP led by Nana Akuffo Addo, in opposition, ridiculed NDC government under Mills and Mahama on the size of their government. They vehemently argued that, the ‘bloated’ NDC government was a waste of Ghana’s public purse.

So on January 7, 2017, as contained in his inaugural address, President Akuffo Addo vowed to protect the public purse during his administration.According to him, public service is not an avenue for politicians to milk the state adding that he will ensure value for money.

Moreover, few weeks after President Nana Akufo-Addo touted the prospects of the country’s economy that the National Democratic Congress(NDC) had left for the current government to manage, the President has made a sharp U-turn on his State of the Nation’s Address saying Ghana’s “economy is in bad shape.”

Where is the lean Cow?

Ghanaians believed the President, hoping that for the first time in the political history of Ghana, Ghanaians shall experience a very “leaned” government like that of a Somalian cow. Some experts even touted the ability of Nana Akuffo Addo in the possibility of creating less than 23 Ministries to efficiently run Ghana’s economy. After all, Ghana’s public purse is in bad shape and must be protected.
The first full list of ministers of the NPP government defied all projections of governance and political experts.

Eventually, Ghana our beloved country through a political In Vitro fertilization is pregnant with 110 (one hundred and ten) political cocktails of ministers. When you add one Special Assistant each plus 50 spokespersons, the real size of NPP government will be 270 appointees. This is beyond a bloated government: it is an obesity of a government.

Even the political neutrals are dumbfounded and confounded with this In Vitro pregnancy of a government. However, the chief linguist, Hamid Mustapha, assured us that they never promised a lean government. The question is, did they also promise Ghanaians an obese (Obolo) government? Does it not hold to reason that if you continue to ridicule your neighbour for marrying an obese woman, it is naturally obligated and expected of you to introduce your lean wife to your neighbours?

Mustapha Hamid further stated in his press conference held on March 15, 2017, that, the economy is so bad that the only way Ghana can be run efficiently is to impregnate government with 110 ducklings that will waddle and ‘duckle’ with Ghana’s public purse ‘perficiently’.

The point is, a Lean Government refers to “the application of lean production or principles and methods to both identify and then implement the most efficient, value added way to provide government services.”

So, where on earth can you equate obesity to efficiency apart from more ‘efficient’ hands being dipped into the public purse?

Kwaku Anase’s GHC1.56 Billion Cash Cow to the Office of Government Machinery (The Presidency)

The NPP, led by Nana Akuffo Addo, during his campaign told Ghanaians that one district one dam, one district one factory, will be private sector led. In other words, the NPP has lined up private investors that will move into the districts to begin the industrial revolution of Ghana. This posture was defended by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, during his vetting by the Appointment Committee where he reiterated that these initiatives shall not be funded by government money.

However, after an alarm was raised concerning the GHC1.56 billion budget allocation for 2017 to the Presidency, the largest in the history of Ghana, the song to the funding of these projects changed. I heard Kwaku Kwarteng protesting that a billion of this money is meant for these initiatives. So, where are the private investors that will carry the machines to go and dig the dams for the farmers to fetch to water their crops? Or the Agotime-Kpetoe Kete(Kente) investors that are ready to invest in Kpetoe? Have they been ferried away by Korle Lagoon flood? Or the GHC1.00 billion shall be used for conferencing and trekking to the offices of the private sector businesses by the presidential initiatives ministers?

In addition to this, the 7.5% Common Fund allocation meant for the development of Local Assemblies has been reduced to 5%. The difference is the amount forwarded to the Presidency to confuse Ghanaians that the government has raised additional money to support the District Assembly Common Fund which is already legally theirs.

This strategy is an epitome of a Kwaku Ananse story. Ananse, after roasting four fingers of plantain, distributed each to his four sons. He later on asked each of his sons to share half of his plantain with him. That’s how Ghana’s public purse is being protected.

Indeed, the obesity of a lean public purse.

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By: Kofi B. Kukubor

The post The obesity of a lean public purse [Article] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“…The argument that the economy is so destroyed that they need a bigger team to do work also doesn’t make sense,” he stated.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday nominated 50 deputies and 4 others to serve as Ministers of State at the presidency and ministries, bringing his total number of ministers to 110.

The appointments have been described as the highest in the country’s history.

The announcement was followed by widespread criticism from the public, though government sought to justify the President’s decision, explaining that the “weak nature of the economy, required a competent army” of people to restore it.

The Minister of Information, Mustapha Hamid, at a press conference, said the President was guided by the competencies and experiences of the people he appointed and the legal requirements in making such decisions.

But speaking to Accra-based television station, TV3 on Wednesday evening, the NDC General Secretary rubbished government’s justification of the large size of the executive and described it as insulting to Ghanaians.

“When I heard the list of ministers and I heard they were holding a press conference, I thought they would have some good reasons to tell Ghanaians. But they have just insulted us further by saying that we did not promise a lean government,” Asiedu Nketia added.

He further argued that Ghanaians deserved better explanations bordering on value for money and national interests.

“They must come out to tell us what it is in terms of value for money that we would gain as a nation out of those appointments. But just to come and say that we didn’t promise a lean government so we are at liberty to do whatever we wish, I think it is rather rubbing pepper in the wound. The argument that the economy is so destroyed that they need a bigger team to do work also doesn’t make sense.”

Muntaka Mubarak shocked by 110 Ministers

The Minority in Parliament also had some harsh words for the President’s appointment with the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, describing the ministerial nominations as ludicrous and shocking given President Akufo-Addo was telling the whole country to tighten their belt.

He also bemoaned that, the President had nominated too many committee Chairpersons in Parliament to serve as ministers hence would affect the work of the House.

“This leaves the Majority side of Parliament with many first-time Members of Parliament who may not be able to effectively play oversight roles as Chair of the various committees of the house, as most of them have now been appointed ministers,” Mr. Mubarak noted.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Justification for 110 ministers ‘senseless’ – Asiedu Nketia appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.