That the president John Evans Mills expressed dissatisfaction in some of his ministers was unambiguous in his interview with the media. The media must be firm and not be cowed into submission just because the president said something in an interview and it was published by the media and he is now calling into radio stations to deny it!

What does the president mean when he said that, at the appropriate time he will bring a better, stronger, and more reliable team on board to help him achieve the change that he promised the people of Ghana?

Nobody has a monopoly over the English language and no one can decide to change the meaning of words at his instance not even president mills. A little content analysis of what the president said during his interview with the media confirms that, he did express dissatisfaction about some of his ministers.

Firstly, the president said that, at the appropriate time a better team will be brought on board. What this means is that, the president thinks he has no better team as of now and will bring on board a better team at the appropriate time. True or false? Secondly, the president said a strong team will be brought on board at the right time to help achieve the change he promised the people of Ghana. What this means is that, the current team of ministers are not strong. That is the meaning everywhere on this earth nobody can change it not even the Queen of England!!

Thirdly, the president said that, he will at the appropriate time bring on board a more reliable team. What this means is that, the current crop of his ministers are not more reliable to his likings period! It is simple and needs not a further debate. I don’t want to talk for the NDC but there are talks all over the place that, some of the current appointees of president Mills are more committed to ex-president Rawlings the founder of the NDC, then they are to him as the president. Perhaps that is where the talk of bringing a more reliable team comes to play.

So when president mills mentioned reliability what came to my mind was that, he was frustrated that, some of his appointees were not reliable and owe their allegiance to chairman Rawlings than they are to him.

Even from the interview he showed some intolerance to the majority leader Alban Bagbin when he remarked in a response to a question that, he has the power to appoint or do a reshuffle and not the majority leader. Even without reminding us we know he has the power for appointing and disappointing who he wants to be part of his team and reshuffling them as well.

But what president Mills must be told is that, it doesn’t have to take him alone to tell Ghanaians if his ministers are stronger, more reliable and a better team. Every Ghanaian is discerning enough to tell a sick horse by the look. Honestly, the qualities on whose back Mills rode to power have vanished nine months into his presidency. He talks now like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe in ways that seem to suggest that, as president he is for Ghana. Let him be told that, he is not for Ghana today and he will not be for Ghana tomorrow!

Is it not so irritating that, the man who before his election as president and even the very day he was sworn into office promised to be a father for all and a listening president, has failed to be one after seeing inside the castle! He has become most arrogant and throwing his weight about.

Why is a listening president not ready to change his interior minister who has a conflict of interest in a crisis of which he belongs to one of the factions?? I am now even beginning to think that, minister Avorka was deliberately made minister for the interior for a certain purpose which is yet to come to light! And why has he failed to talk as the father for all when three of his children were butchered to death at the Agbogloshie market?

Nine months into the administration of mills my view is that, he has failed Ghanaians and I honestly wish he could even be impeached for a more caring and listening person to take over.

May I conclude by calling on the media not to be intimidated at all to retract a very factual story they filed. The bitter truth is that, some of the ministers of president mills, are not more reliable, not better, and not strong enough. These are the words of President Mills not my words. It is now left with very objective and discerning Ghanaians to say whether President Mills did say that, some of his ministers were under performing or not?

AKILU SAYIBU, UK.

Email: Akilu.sayibu@live.uwe.ac.uk