The GCPP’s (Mr. Domestication) Dan Lartey, seriously contesting the flagbearer’s staff of Kwame Nkrumah’s Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP) in the 2004 elections has lashed out at the president, for creating ministerial portfolios just to satisfy party faithfuls and activist at the expense of the over burdened national economy. He is emphatic that the current number of ministers, minister of states, and what he describes as controversial government spokespersons and special assistance are too large for a HIPC economy like ours.

In an interview with Network Herald, he said this might be the eye opener to the electorate because a GCPP government would reduce the number of ministers to only 19. The Directors and Public Relations practitioners in the Civil Services who would be equipped through training to work effectively would do the major work, according to him.

Mr. Lartey described as an abuse of state resources to satisfy political party interest, the employment of Special Assistance by ministers while their Public Relations Officers serve as protocol and errand boys. He said a CPP government would only consider ministries such as: Foreign Affairs; Finance; Defense; Interior; Trade, Commerce and Industry which would have additional responsibility over Tourism; Agriculture, Food and Animal Husbandry; Works and Housing; and Health and Environment.

Others are Information; Communication and Aviation; Mines and Energy; Local Government and Electoral Administration; Justice, Law and Order; Labour and Social Welfare; Lands, Town and Country Planning and Forestry. The rest are: Roads and Transport with additional responsibilities for Railways, Bus Services, Long Distance Travels and Haulage; Marine Exploits, Fisheries, Navigation and Lighthouse; Attorney General; and finally Education, Youth and Sports.

Mr. Domestication who led the Great Consolidated Popular Party in the last general elections challenged the president to stop poaching the more credible and potential materials from other political parties to make up for their shortfalls of his government if the NPP really has the men. “Where are the men and women that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) boasted of during the 2000 elections.”

He further challenged the government to stop hiding his inadequacies with the fa?ade of an all-inclusive government because the approach weakens the stability of the other political parties and endangers the life of our infant democracy. He lamented the absorption of such political stalwarts as Professor George Hagan CPP presidential candidate in the 2000 elections, Dr Paa Kwesi Ndoum, Mr. Freddie Blay and Mr. Kwesi Armah all leading CPP members into the NPP government through “underhand dealings”

He further described the tactic an outmoded electoral fraud intended only to weaken other potential political opponents through offer of lucrative packages and jobs. Mr. Lartey questioned how these same people could mount CPP political platforms in the coming months to campaign against a government they had actively participated in.

He urged Nkrumahist to be loyal, dedicated and committed to the ideals and vision of Dr Kwame Nkrumah to liberate the nation once again.

A cursory look at the list names CABINET MINISTERS [CLICK HERE]
1. Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor for Defense
2. Dr. Kwaku Afriyie for Health,
3. Mrs. Gladys Asmah Women and Children’s Affairs,
4. Major Courage Quashigah Food and Agriculture,
5. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Minister of Foreign Affairs,
6. Papa Owusu Ankomah Ministry of Justice and Attorney General,
7 Kwadwo Baah Wiredu Education, Youth and Sports,
8. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Tourism and Modernisation of the capital,
9. Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom Energy,
10. Professor Kasim Kasanga Science and Environment,
11. Felix Owusu Adjapong Parliamentary Affairs,
12. Yaw Osafo Maafo Finance and Economic Planning,
13. Professor Dominic Fobih Lands and Forestry,
14. Hackman Owusu Agyeman Interior,
15. Mrs. Cecilia Bannerman Minister of Mines,
16. Kwadwo Adjei Darko Local Government and Rural Development,
17. Alhaji Mustapha Idris Ali Works and Housing
18. Alan Kyerematen Trade, Industry and President’s Special Initiatives
19 Joseph Henry Mensah Senior Minister with responsibility for Public SectorReform and National Institutional Renewal Programme (NIRP)
NON-CABINET MINISTERS include
1. Dr Richard Anane Roads, Highways andTransport,
2. Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways,
3. Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku Regional Co-Operation and NEPAD,
4. Yaw Barimah Manpower Development and Employment,
5. Albert Kan-Dapaah Communications and Technology,
6. Kwamena Bartels Private Sector Development,
7. Nana Akomea, Information.

MINISTERS OF STATE
1. Ms Christine Churcher Girl Child Education,
2. Ms Elizabeth Ohene Tertiary Education,
3. Rashid Bawa Education, Youth and Sports,
4. Ishmael Ashitey Trade, Industry and Presidential Initiatives,
5. Ben.Salifu Office of the Senior Minister,
6. Ishmael Ashitey Trade, Industry and President’s Special Initiatives

DEPUTY MINISTERS
1. Miss Gloria Akuffo Justice and Attorney General,
2. K. T Hammond Energy
3. John Benham Manpower, Development and Employment,
4. Captain Nkrabea Effah-Dartey Local Government and Rural Development,
5. Moses Dani Baa Health,
6. Akwasi Osei-Adjei Foreign Affairs,
7. Joe Donkor Education, Youth and Sports,
8. Joe Aggrey Education, Youth and Sports,
9. Boniface Saddique Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City
10. Dr Mathew Kwaku Antwi Science and Environment,
11. Agyemang Manu Finance and Economic Planning,
12. Madam Theresa Amerley Tagoe Lands and Forestry,
13. Thomas Broni Interior,
14. Dr Adombire Gyeshika Agambila Ports, Harbours and Railways,
15. Dr Abdul Majeed Haroun Mines,
16. Issah Ketekwu Local Government and Rural Development,
17. Joseph Akudibillah Defense,
18. Clement L. N. Eledi Food and Agriculture,
19. Mrs. Anna Nyamekye Food and Agriculture,
20. Kwadwo Affram Asiedu Trade, Industry and Presidential Initiatives,
21. Miss Alima Mahama Trade, Industry and Presidential l Initiative
22. Alhaji Moctar M. Bamba Office of the President
23. Andrew Abambile Awuni Information,
24. Dr A. A. Osei Finance and Economic Planning,
25. Ambrose Derry Justice and Attorney General,
26. Dr Charles Bempong Yeboah Works and Housing,
27. I. Kofi Poku-Adusei Women and Children’sAffairs
28. Mrs. Angela Ofori Atta Manpower Development and Employment,
29. Mr. Emmanuel Adjei- Boye Roads, Highways and Transport,
30. David Gyewu Communications,
31. Mrs. Mercy Bampo Addo Office of the President