President Akufo-Addo has booted out the Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu and nine others out of his government.
This is contained in the latest Ministerial reshuffle by the President as announced by the Director of Communication at the presidency, Eugene Arhin.
The names of the Ministers who were not reassigned are as follows:
- Kwaku Agyeman Manu (formerly Health Minister)
- Mohammed Awal (Formerly Tourism Minister)
- Freda Prempeh (Formerly Sanitation and Water Resources Minister)
- Ken Ofori-Atta (Formerly Finance Minister)
- Dan Botwe (Formerly Local Government Minister)
- Kwasi Amoako-Atta (Formerly Roads and Highways Minister)
- Kwaku Afriyie (Formerly Environment Minister)
- Lariba Abudu (Formerly Gender Minister)
- Joseph Makubu (Formerly the Minister for the Oti Region)
Analysis
The reshuffle comes in amid pressure from some Ghanaians and civil society for the president to refresh his cabinet to bring in new ideas.
These calls came in as early as 2020 when the country faced one of its’ worst economic crisis yet, with borders closed and business forced to shut down amidst lockdowns over the covid-19 pandemic.
The calls intensified as the years went by and the country experienced one of its’ highest inflation rates; in January 2023, of 54 percent. Even members of Parliament belonging to the governing Party, over 80 of them asked the President to sack the Finance Minister.
Many who had expected this to happen earlier think that this may have come in a bit late. Others are also questioning the impact this would make on a government that has less than a year to wrap up.
For those who wanted the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and the Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu to exit, they believe it is time for accountability.
The Minority in Parliament in Particular has accused the Finance Minister of messing Ghana’s economy up and critics think that he must be made to face the law.
For those who have asked for the head of the Health Minister, his Sputnik Vaccine deal and the seeming lack of efforts to account for the monies Ghana paid for, to secure vaccines that never came in should cause Mr. Agyeman Manu to answer some critical questions and perhaps face criminal charges if found culpable.
By Beatrice Adu
