Kwadwo Mpiani, a former chief of staff in the previous Kufuor administration, has expressed reservations regarding the timing of President Akufo-Addo’s ministry reshuffle with just ten months to go before a general election.
While the President has the authority to make such changes, Mr. Mpiani voiced his doubts on JoyNews’ PM Express, pointing out that the nearness of the forthcoming elections raises concerns about the efficacy and impact of the reshuffle.
Mr. Mpiani, a pivotal figure in the Kufuor government, conceded that the President has the final say over cabinet reorganization, depending on how he judges the ministers’ work. But he questioned if it was fair to make these adjustments just 10 months before the general elections.
“I don’t have a reaction to the ministerial reshuffle because it is the President’s prerogative. He works with the Ministers and the deputy ministers and he should be able to determine who is working well or otherwise.
“But I think that eight months to an election will not have any effect on the direction of government. So I think the timing is the problem, otherwise, it is his prerogative to do a reshuffle as he sees fit,” he said on Wednesday.
He also raised worries about the new ministers’ learning curve, stating that their tenure is insufficient to fully prepare them for the complexities of their ministries.
“A number of these new appointees are entirely fresh. He said, “How are they going to get knowledge and insight into the ministries so they can lead them as is required of them?
“What then is your desired outcome? I don’t think they can make any significant changes since the election is too close,” he said to host Evans Mensah.
Mr. Mpiani is the latest high official in the nation to declare that the reorganization was implemented too late.
