Ahead of the expected announcement by President J.A. Kufuor of his new-look cabinet, Ghanaian newspapers on Monday speak of intense lobbying at the presidency by high office seekers.
While the Daily Graphic and the Daily Guide are out with a speculative, look alike leads on the subject, nearly all the papers say a lot more women are likely to find their way into the executive than ever before.
According to the Graphic, ‘Barring any last-minute hitches, President J.A. Kufuor will today unveil changes to his cabinet, something the public, for sometime now, has eagerly been waiting for.’
The Daily Guide also said ‘Barring unforeseen developments, President John Agyekum, who is running against time, will unveil the faces of his new ministerial team today.’
The Independent said Members of Parliament of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) are taking advantage of the mass resignation and impending reshuffle to launch themselves into ministerial positions.
The paper said some of the MPs have solicited the services of some powerful and influential chiefs as well as personalities close to President Kufuor to actualize their dreams.
Quoting its sources in the corridors of power, the paper the MPs involved have abandoned their responsibility in the law making House and are now running helter-skelter in search of people who could help them realize their dream of launching themselves up on their ambitions.
“Our sources in the President's residence say the so-called powerful chiefs and personalities ambush President Kufuor's residence and are daily knocking on his door every morning, while others track him down to the Castle to lobby him to consider certain personalities, including the NPP MPs, who are "eye red" for the top posts available.”
The President is expected to officially announce the names of the new faces to replace the eight Cabinet Ministers that have resigned their positions to prepare for the contest for the flag-bearership of the NPP.
The resigned ministers include Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor, Defence Minister; Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyemang, Minister for Water Resources Works and Housing: Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Minister for Foreign Affairs and NEPAD and Paapa Owusu Ankomah, Minister for Education and Sports.
The rest are Felix Owusu Agyepong, Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs who doubles as the Acting Transportation Minister: Alan Kyeremateng, Minister for Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development & PSI; Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Tourism and Diasporan Relations and Prof. Mike Ocquaye, Minister for Communications.
They have all tendered in their resignation but have been asked to stay in office until Parliament vets and approves of a new set of Ministers to replace them.
President Kufuor last Thursday met his Cabinet, including the eight aspirants and took the opportunity to thank them for their services to the country and wished them well in their future endeavours.
President Kufuor admonished the aspirants to go about their campaigns with decorum, devoid of attacks and mudslinging such that the one who would emerge the winner could get the support of all the other aspirants.
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