Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has said that public opinion plays an important role in getting leaders to govern in the right direction.
He urged Ghanaians to continue expressing their views on governance publicly. Even if the views are not heard immediately, the authorities will one day get to act on it.
He was contributing to a discussion on the key Points on TV3 Saturday February 17 about the ministerial reshuffle done by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
“We can never run away from public opinion. Without public opinion, we are finished,” Martin Kpebu said.
Also commenting on the same show, a Professor at the University of Ghana, Ransford Gyampo said he was unhappy with the ‘last minute’ reshuffle.
He believes that the ministerial changes came too late.
Prof Gyampo indicated that “It doesn’t satisfy any of the conceptual frameworks of reshuffling. I have not been happy with it.”
He added “If you refuse reshuffling, it means you are pampering incompetence. The periodization of reshuffling is more important than the frequency.”
Regarding the removal of Mr Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister, Prof Gyampo said ” If you do this last-minute change it becomes difficult, now who do we apportion the blame and who do we praise? Even though I also called for the removal of Ofori-Atta I think he should been allowed to stay, because he has spoilt things already. This reshuffle is more partisan in direction than nation building.”
President Akufo-Addo relieved Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta of his portfolio in government, with immediate effect.
The other ministers who have also been removed include Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Works and Housing Minister Francis Asenso Boakye, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, Health, Kwasi Amoako Attah, Roads and Highways, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Hon. Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Gender, Children and Social Protection Hon. Lariba Abudu, Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Devt Hon. Dan Botwe, Sanitation and Water Resources Hon. Freda Prempeh, Tourism, Arts and Culture Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Greater Accra Region Hon. Henry Quartey, Oti Region Mr. Joseph Makubu.
Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has however been reassigned to Works and Housing, Asenso-Boakye has also been reassigned to Roads and Highways.
This was announced by the Director of Communications at the Presidency Eugene Arhin on Wednesday, February 14.
“The President personally expressed his sincere appreciation directly to each of the Ministers and Deputy Ministers, who have exited Government, for their commitment, competence, dedication and hard work in office, which helped in the realization of Government’s mandate to the Ghanaian people over the last seven (7) years, and wished each of them well in their future endeavours,” the statement said.
Source: 3news.com
