A political analyst at the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Jonathan Asante Otchere, has expressed the view that the anticipated ministerial reshuffle by President Akufo-Addo may not be advantageous for the NPP’s presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as the December 7 polls approaches.
Dr. Otchere made this assertion during an interview with Alfred Ocansey, the host of TV3’s current affairs program, Ghana Tonight, on Thursday, February 15.
“When you are conducting a reshuffle, you need to know the theoretical framework that you are operating with. What framework is the President operating under?” he questioned.
“The most important agenda now is breaking ‘eight,’ so how does this reshuffle fit into the breaking eight agenda, and that, for me, I am of the view that it does not,” he concluded.
According to Dr. Otchere, the President missed an opportunity to reduce government expenditures, a matter that has drawn criticism from civil society organizations and the public due to extensive spending and substantial borrowing.
“Probably if you look at the parliamentary section, you could see that it is very political because those who have lost out and those who did not contest they have nothing to lose so why would they [government] keep them, I think that one makes sense,” he added.
He suggested that the Vice President might gain some political advantages on the parliamentary side but not necessarily on the presidential side.
Dr. Asante Otchere highlighted that the decision to replace sitting MPs and ministers of state who lost in the NPP parliamentary primaries was reasonable and would not harm the party’s prospects.
“Perhaps, if you look at the parliamentary section, you could see that it is very political because those who have lost and those who did not contest have nothing to lose, so why would they [the government] retain them? I think that makes sense,” he added.
Dr. Asante Otchere further emphasized the importance of supporting reshuffle exercises with a theoretical framework and questioned the framework the president was operating under.
Stop referring to him as political analyst. He’s a card bearing member of NDC. Let’s stop the jokes and come out with our political coloration. He’s my good friend from infancy.
Stop referring to him as political analyst. He’s a card bearing member of NDC. Let’s stop the jokes and come out with our political coloration. He’s my good friend from infancy.