The long awaited reshuffle, is finally here and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has made some changes to his government, albeit too little too late.
First of all, the changes are not what Ghanaians expected, as they were anticipating that, the president will cut down on the number of his appointees to correspond with the austerity measures that the people are being asked to bear.
The speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumani Bagbin, who announced the changes on Tuesday, February 7, said that president Akufo-Addo, has appointed the Member of Parliament (MP) For Adansi Asokwa, Kwabena Tahiru (KT) Hammond, as the new minister of Trade and Industry, to replace Akan Kwadwo Kerematen, who resigned last month to pursue his presidential ambition.
This is the last stand KT Hammond, has to serve in the highest capacity as a minister, as it was reported in the past of his disappointment in Akufo-Addo, for failing to appoint him.
The ministry of agric, which also became vacant after the resignation of Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has been replaced by Bryan Acheampong, the MP for Abetifi Constituency in the Eastern region.
Stephen Asamoah Boateng, former director-general of State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) becomes the new minister of chieftaincy and religious affairs.
The rest are; Osei Bonsu Amoah, has been picked as the Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government. Mohammed Amin Adam (current deputy minister for energy) is now a minister of state at the Finance Ministry
Herbert Krapa (current deputy minister of trade) is now deputy minister of energy.
This newspaper is at a loss as to how to describe the current changes in government, whether to call it a reshuffle or filling vacant positions.
President Akufo-Addo, has failed in this reshuffle to heed to the calls of Ghanaians to reduce his number of appointees, especially so at a time, the economy is facing serious challenges.
The Gordian knot that many expected the president to cut, was to merge some ministries, reduce the number of ministers, instead of creating new portfolios and reassigning others.
