... major losers J. H. Mensah and Elizabeth Ohene
President Kufuor has reshuffled his cabinet and his governing team. This is the first reshuffle since the NPP administration came into power last January and involves the creation of some new positions and what might be described as demotion for others.

Those whose new portfolios can be described as demotions are Mr. J. H. Mensah who is now a senior minister and chairman of the economic management team and Miss Elizabeth Ohene who has been appointed a Minister at the Presidency, without any defined job functions. Mr. Mensah used to be the leader of government business, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission and majority leader in parliament, while Ms Ohene was the Minister for Media Relations and Government Spokesperson.

The MP for Sekondi, Papa Owusu Ankomah, who has been at the Sports Ministry for a just a few months, is the new Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Majority leader, while Jake Obetsebi Lamptey is the Minister for Information and Presidential Affairs. Jake hands over his portfolio as the President’s chief of staff to Kufuor’s longtime confidante, Kojo Mpianim.

The MP for Ablekuma North Kwamena Bartels is moving from the Works and Housing Ministry to the Presidency as Minister for Private Sector Development. He takes over from the venerable C. O. Nyanor, who is now the minister of state responsible for the government’s economic team. The Youth and Sports Ministry is now to be headed by Edward Ossei Kwaku who was the deputy presidential affairs vulture.

Dr. Kwaku Afriyie who until the reshuffle was Minister for Mines, Lands and Forestry now becomes health minister, while Dr. Richard Anane, becomes Minister for Roads and Transport. The Minister for Economic Planning and Regional Integration Dr Kwesi Nduom has an additional responsibility as chairman of the National Development Planning Commission.

Deputy Interior Minister Yaw Barimah, has now been nominated to become the Minister for Works and Housing. Because of the de-linking of the transport sector from Communications ministry, Felix Owusu-Agyapong is now the minister for Communications and Technology. Mr. Agyei Darko, who was at the Ministry of Roads and Highways, now moves to the newly created ministry of Mines, following the separation of the mines from the Lands and Forestry.

Ben Salifu, moves from the Northern Region with a new designation- Minister responsible for National Development Planning Commission designate. Professor Kassim Kasanga, a lecturer at the University of Science and Technology has also been nominated as Minister for Lands and Forestry and Prince Imoro Andani nominated as Northern Regional Minister.

Ex-Media Relations Minister To Take Over The Writing Of President’s Speech

One of the anticipated changes in the cabinet reshuffle was the reassignment of Former Media Relations Minister, Elizabeth Ohene who is now a Minister without portfolio at the Presidency. Many observers believe that Ms Ohene was reassigned because she did not live up to the President’s expecation in the discharge of her duties as Media Relations Minister.

The reassignment of the former Leader of Government Business and Majority Leader, J H Mensah to the position of Senior Minister and Chairman of Economic Management Team is also thought to be some sort of demotion. But Miss Ohene who left her job at the BBC to join the NPP government thinks otherwise. According to her, the President has the right to reshuffle Ministers as and when he deems fit.

She explained that the new positions for the various Ministers are not demotions but just identifying the strengths of each person and re-assigning him or her. Concerns have been rasied about the ambiguity of Miss Ohene’s news position with some asking questions about her job definition, but Deputy Government Spokeperson, Kwabena Agyepong says Ms. Ohene’s job is already cut out for her.

She will be handling the writing of the President’s Speeches that will be delivered at various functions. “Miss Ohene is a key member of the government and very close to the President. She is very articulated in explaining the President’s policy on paper and that is what she will be doing,” Mr Agyepong added.