Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodoo, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has argued that President Akufo-Addo‘s recent ministerial reshuffle is motivated by political considerations rather than the imperative for effective governance.
Vanderpuye’s remarks follow President Akufo-Addo’s reshuffle on February 14, 2024. According to him, the adjustments were driven by the President’s recognition of challenges in specific constituencies and the perceived incompetence of certain Members of Parliament.
He emphasized that the introduction of new faces in the reshuffle is a strategic maneuver to replace MPs who suffered defeat in the Parliamentary Primaries and subsequently faded from the public spotlight.
Vanderpuye asserted that the newly appointed individuals would use their limited influence to address their public images and solidify their positions in their respective constituencies.
Pointing specifically to the removal of the former Sanitation Minister, Freda Prempeh, who was appointed a few months ago, he attributed her removal to her defeat in the Parliamentary Primaries.
In an interview on the Big Issue on Citi TV with Selorm Adonoo on February 17, 2024, Vanderpuye expressed skepticism about the new appointees’ capability to enhance the administration, suggesting that their lack of experience and background in their ministries could potentially exacerbate the situation.
“Some of us who are political strategists have known that these changes were not made for the functioning of government but for political reasons. Strategic political reasons. Let me be frank with you, the president is privy to National security reports, and he knows that a lot of his constituencies are not doing well, the constituencies of his people and some of these people have lost elections and as such, why should he keep those people there, their influence is gone in the constituency so why doesn’t he bring in new people who may have a little bit of influence that could solve their personalities and positions in their constituencies.
“Let me take for example, the president recently appointed Freda Prempeh to the Ministry, a few months ago, why would he change her? The only reason why he is changing her is because Freda has lost her Parliamentary position.”