As he approaches the final year of his four-year mandate, President Akufo-Addo is expected to make some major changes to his cabinet, Flagstaff House insiders have predicted.
The president, GhanaWeb has learned, would fast-track the long anticipated ministerial shake up in the wake of the botched referendum amid widespread speculation that some key personalities could be booted out.
“The scale of change in the ministerial reshuffle will be intense because the president is not happy with the general performance of some of his appointees,” our source who pleaded for strict anonymity disclosed.
Government officials, who are familiar with the imminent reshuffle, say President Akufo-Addo intends to stamp his authority with a historic clear out.
It is roundly believed that the president will come out “all guns blazing” on New Year’s Eve as he enters the final crucial year of his mandate.
“He is facing the Ghanaian people in the next twelve months and we must have solid record to show after years in office. It is not going to be business as usual. He will bring in new people who can offer fresh ideas,” the source added.
Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo, who is seen as a close ally of the president, is among the heavyweight likely to be affected.
Speculations are that the president is highly upset about his utterances and some unilateral decisions he has taken, which has ended up tarnishing the image of the government.
He has been surcharged for $1m over an agreement with a foreign company without following due process.
Using a single-source procurement process, Kroll Associates UK Ltd was contracted in 2017 by the Senior Minister to “review electronic evidence, identify assets abroad and manage a joint Civil and Criminal Assets recovery process.”
By September 2018, $1 million, the equivalent to ¢4.86 million was paid to the company as full payment for its services.
But the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo has challenged the arrangement, adding that by Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, the contract required parliamentary approval because it involved a foreign company.
According to sources, amongst those likely to fall during the shake-up will be Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei Opare, National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, Defense Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, Trade and Industries Minister, Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Business Development Minister, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal and Procurement Minister, Adjoa Sarfo.
Dominic Nitiwul and Ambrose Dery, are expected to swap positions, GhanaWeb understands.
Most of the deputy ministers are expected to lose their present portfolios whiles others would be sacked completely.
Some Chief Executive Officers at some state agencies are expected to be elevated to ministerial positions.
