An imminent reshuffle is expected to result in the dismissal of four Ministers of State, seven deputy ministers, and numerous Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of government agencies, according to reports.
The individuals facing dismissal are predominantly those who participated in the recent parliamentary primaries but were unsuccessful in their bids.
Joseph Cudjoe, the Minister of Public Enterprises and Member of Parliament (MP) for Effia in the Western Region, Dr. Freda Prempeh, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources and MP for Tano North in the Ahafo Region, and Hajia Lariba Zuweira Abudu, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and MP for Walewale in the North East Region, all faced defeats during the party’s January 27, 2024 primaries.
Seth Kwame Acheampong, the Eastern Regional Minister, also lost the New Juaben North seat in the primaries.
Among the seven deputy ministers who were not re-elected are Tina Naa Ayeley Mensah, the Deputy Minister of Health and MP for Weija-Gbawe in the Greater Accra Region, and Mahama Asei Seini, the Deputy Minister of Health and MP for Daboya/Mankarigu in the Savannah Region.
Other deputies who were unsuccessful in their bids include Gifty Twum-Ampofo, the Deputy Minister of Education and MP for Abuakwa North in the Eastern Region, Ama Pomaa Boateng, the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digitalisation and MP for Juaben in the Ashanti Region, Collins Ntim, the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development and MP for Offinso North in the Ashanti Region, Bright Wireko-Brobbey, the Deputy Minister of Labour Relations and MP for Lower Hemang Denkyira in the Central Region, and Moses Anim, the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and MP for Trobu.
Ms. Mensah was defeated by Jerry Ahmed Shaibu, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Coastal Development Authority, while Mr. Seini lost to a former Deputy Minister of the Savannah Region, Samuel Tika. Mr. Wireko-Brobbey was defeated by the CEO of Export and Import Bank, Ghana, Lawrence Agyinsam, while Ms. Boateng and Mr. Ntim lost their re-election bid to Frank Owusu Achiaw and Fred Kyei Asamoah, respectively.
The decision to remove these officials was reportedly reached during a meeting held before the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Primaries.
“It is unfortunate but they will be relieved of their duties in the coming days once the primaries are over and a winner is decided”, a report by Ghanaweb revealed.
This unconfirmed report comes after the sacking of 24 District Chief Executives by President Akufo-Addo over the weekend.
The President explained that this action is in accordance with Article 243 (3) b of the Constitution and section 20 (3) (b) of the Local Government Act, 2014, (Act 936).
In the letter signed on Friday, February 2, the President directed the affected DCEs to be notified of the revocation and instructed that replacements be nominated under separate cover.
The specific reasons for the revocation were not provided in the statement.
Among those affected by the president’s directive are, Martina Appiah Nyantakyi (Ahafo Ano North), Nii Larteh Ollenu (Amansie West), Daniel Owuredu (Nkoranza South), Alhaji Abdulai Adams (Pru East), Gmasombe Jerome Kofi Gyimah, (Sene East), Joseph Aidoo (Awutu Senya West), Samuel Kwame Agyekum (Asuogyaman), Seth Asante (Atiwa West), Comfort Asante (New Juaben North), Isaac Kwadzo Buabeng (Nsawam-Adoagyiri), Daniel Alexander Nii-Noi Adumua (Adentan) and Mohammed Bashiru Kamara (Ga Central).
While many continue to ponder over the rationale behind the president’s decision, financial analyst and US economist, Scott Bolshevik, has shared what he believes to be the reason behind the mass sacking of District Chief Executives by President Akufo-Addo.
According to Mr Bolshevik in a post on X, February 3, 2024, these DCEs were not dismissed due to their inefficiency or corruption-related activities, per his conversation with a Member of Parliament.
He noted that the 24 individuals were removed from post because the “preferred 24 candidates for president lost the recent elections.”
Mr Bolshevick said their continuous stay may impair the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s quest to become President, thus their appointments had to be revoked by the president.
“I had the privilege to talk to an MP The bizarre part was that the DCEs were sacked, not based on corruption or inefficiency It’s because the preferred 24 candidates for president lost the recent elections. This may impair Bawumia’s succession It has never been about you!” he wrote.