-Cooling off in Jo’burg

Information emanating from the seat of government, the Osu Castle suggest that ever since Vice President and Chairman of the Transition Team, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur asked all outgoing Ministers to prepare their handing over notes, President-elect John Dramani Mahama have had no ‘peace’ as a result of extreme jostling and lobbying by operatives of the National Democratic Congress to either keep their current portfolios or get reassignments.

The worrying development is said to have assumed such an alarming proportion that not a day passes by without the President receiving dozens of CVs and party operatives coming to see him, ostensibly to either consider them or their relatives in his impending administration.

Sources at the Osu Castle disclosed to The Al-Hajj that, President John Mahama has expressed grave disquiet at the intense public lobbying and forceful political scheming currently going on, and in a way not to be carried away by these scheming, “the President had decided to travel with his family to South Africa for the Christmas holidays.”

“Ever since we won the election, my brother the President have had sleepless night, at a point he felt twitchy due to the political scavengers using all sought of means to catch his eyes…you now that it is a new administration, obviously everybody would like to fight to either retain or get assign to a particular position, but the President is particularly worried about this and the best decision he took was to travel outside the country to cool off” the source noted

In a humorous manner, the source retorted “it seems those loitering at the corridors of the president with their well packaged CVs have succeeded in chasing out the Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces from his own country.”

Reports are that other NDC operatives outside the ministerial circles are also said to be frantically scheming to take over from their contemporaries’ currently in government and in public boards and corporations.

President John Mahama on Sunday travelled to South Africa on a private visit with his family for the Christmas holidays, and ever since, it has been rumored that he was flown out of the country to undergo a kidney transplant.

The president in a Christmas message to Ghanaians via the social media (facebook) said, “Yes, I am in South Africa with my wife and children for a private visit, and it is an opportunity for me to spend some time with them. I am not in hospital, I was not flown out for medical attention, and I have not had any kidney transplant.”

He expressed regret that “Our politics is becoming one that dwells on lies and deliberately concocted issues rather than what concerns our people.”

“I am hoping that the voice of the people of Ghana in the last elections will soon dawn on us to appreciate the fact that Ghanaians are indeed discerning,” President Mahama added in statement posted on his website.

In his Christmas message, President Mahama wished all Ghanaians a Merry Christmas and the very best of the yuletide.

“Lordina, my wife, is sending out a Christmas Message in which she is encouraging all to look beyond our individual families and extend a hand of care and fellow-feeling to others who may be disadvantaged in one way or the other,” he added.

A Close confidant of the President hinted The Al-Hajj that President Mahama was advised by his personal Doctor to take time off the political scene in order to have a good rest after the hectic campaign just to store enough energy for the daunting task ahead

“the President could have chosen anywhere in Ghana to spend a good time with his family, but I can tell you if he chooses to spend the holidays anywhere in this country, he will still be working, especially when there are all sought of lobbying going on” the source noted