Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, the Odododiodoo Member of Parliament, has claimed that political factors, not the necessity for efficient governance, are the driving force behind President Akufo-Addo’s recent ministerial reshuffle.
The remarks made by Vanderpuye follow the reorganization of President Akufo-Addo on February 14, 2024. He claimed that the President’s awareness of difficulties in certain constituencies and the perceived ineptitude of certain Members of Parliament served as the impetus for the changes.
He emphasized that the reshuffle’s addition of fresh faces is a calculated attempt to unseat Members of Parliament who lost the Parliamentary Primaries and have since vanished from view.
He asserts that the recently appointed individuals will use their limited power to manage their public image and maintain their positions in their respective constituencies.
Specifically citing the dismissal of the recently appointed former Sanitation Minister Freda Prempeh, Vanderpuye blamed her removal on her loss in the Parliamentary Primaries.
On February 17, 2024, Vanderpuye expressed doubts about the new appointees’ capacity to improve the administration during an interview with Selorm Adonoo on Citi TV’s The Big Issue. He hinted that the appointees’ inexperience and lack of background in their ministries might even make matters worse.
“Those of us in the political strategy field are aware that these modifications were made for political purposes rather than to improve the way the government operated. political strategy reasons. To be honest, the president has access to national security reports and is aware that many of his constituents are struggling. Some of these people have even lost elections, so why should he keep them in office when their influence has diminished? Instead, he should appoint new candidates who might have some residual influence that could help them resolve their personalities and positions within their constituencies.
For instance, why would the president have changed Freda Prempeh, who was just appointed to the Ministry a few months ago? He is merely altering her because Freda is no longer a member of Parliament.
