The Convention People’s Party (CPP) member and private attorney Kwame Jantuah has criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s latest ministerial change, saying it comes too late.
Particularly with reference to the former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, Jantuah voiced particular concerns about the timing of the reshuffle, claiming that the President waited until things became worse before making changes.
“Unfortunately, sometimes the president is stubborn; he waits till things nearly spoil then he comes in,” Jantuah said in an interview on Friday, February 16.
He listed incidents when he thought the President waited to take action until things became really bad, including when he decided to ask the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for help even though he had been told earlier that it wouldn’t be necessary.
Following President Akufo-Addo’s decision to remove Ken Ofori-Atta from his role as Finance Minister and a number of other ministerial changes announced in the most recent reshuffle, Jantuah made these remarks.
Among the prominent individuals ousted from their positions are Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu, Works and Housing Minister Francis Asenso Boakye, and Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
Some ministers were reassigned to alternative portfolios as part of the reshuffle, which was revealed on Wednesday, February 14 by Eugene Arhin, the Presidency’s director of communications. For example, Asenso-Boakye was transferred to Roads and Highways, and Kojo Oppong Nkrumah was reallocated to Works and Housing.
President Akufo-Addo thanked each outgoing minister for their commitment and diligence during their time in office and wished them luck in their future pursuits in a statement issued by the Presidency.
But Jantuah’s criticism highlights more general worries about the timing and efficacy of government initiatives, especially when it comes to addressing the problems the nation faces.
According to Jantuah, the government’s apparent inaction on the implementation of measures raises concerns about its responsiveness to problems and its proactive management of important portfolios.
