Heads To Roll; as Akufo-Addo trims Cabinet

The Chronicle intelligence sources in the corridors of power has intimated that barring any last minute change of mind, President Akufo-Addo will drastically cut down  the size of his government from over one hundred ministers to just eighty.

The reliable source could not tell the ‘Spear of Nation’ the motivation underlying the President’s decision, but this reporter gathered from independent sources that the current composition of Parliament was playing a key role in the President’s action.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) does not have an absolute majority in the current Legislative House, and with constitutional directive of appointing majority of the ministers from Parliament, maintaining more ministerial portfolios would be a risky venture.

Now, the popular saying that the Minority will have their say, but the Majority will have its way, may not be feasible in the 8th Parliament, though the only independent candidate has said he would sit with the NPP to make the latter the majority in the House.

In the early days of his first term, President Akufo-Addo received the ‘baptism of fire’ for what a section of the public described as ‘elephant’-sized government.

This paper has picked information that some ministries would be merged while others are likely to be scrapped to reduce the size of his government.

Meanwhile, it is not clear whether President Akufo-Addo would change all the appointees of his first term and bring new faces, as he is set to form a new government.

However, of all the former appointees in the previous government, it is the former Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, who is sure he will be maintained.

The President, during his campaign, made mention of that. Also expected to maintain her position is the Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Opare.

It is public knowledge that the position of Deputy Chief of Staff is vacant following the contesting and winning of the parliamentary bids of Francis Asenso Boakye and Samuel Abu Jinapor, who were occupying those positions.

Deep throat sources in the corridors of power, and even at the national headquarters of the party, told this paper that people were lobbying with every means possible to be appointed into the second term government of President Akufo-Addo.

Lobbying for positions in government is always expected immediately after a party wins the presidency, especially from those who may have invested in the campaign ahead of the victory.

Meanwhile, a section of people do not want the President to maintain appointees who performed abysmally in the previous administration.

At midnight December 6th, all appointees of the previous Akufo-Addo government brought their duties to an end, as directed by the Constitution.

On the heels of the above, President Akufo-Addo is expected to form another government, but five days after his swearing in, the President is yet to do that.

In the interim, communication has gone around from Jubilee House in relation to the forming of his second term government.

The communication from the Chief of Staff’s office relayed the President’s decision to have some ministers act until the time he makes fresh appointments.

The statement said: “Pending the re-composition and reorganisation of government, I’m directed by H.E. the President, as his representative at the ministry…”

The release continued: “The directive is in accordance with section 14(5) of the Presidential Transition Act, Act 845 of 2012.”

These acting ministers are under a directive to leave decisions on policy to substantive ministers

“You are to take note of the provision of section14 (5) which states that you shall not take a decision involving a policy issue,” the letter cautioned.

However, some members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have begun lobbying to be maintained or appointed in the second term of President Akufo-Addo, The Chronicle has been told.

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