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We should not just reshuffle, we must reduce the number of ministers – Franklin Cudjoe

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Franklin Cudjoe

President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, says should President Akufo-Addo heed calls for a ministerial reshuffling, he should use the opportunity to cut down on his appointees.

According to him, the problem with the government is not only about the ministerial personnel at post, but also includes the size of government and the number of ministries operating in the country, hence merely changing ministers would not solve the problem.

He explained that taking into consideration the current poor state of the economy, a reduction in the size of government would save the country some 6 billion Ghana cedis in expenditure in comparison to the 200 million the 30% cuts in ministerial spending will save the country.

“There are too many of them, there are too many ministries that could be collapsed into fit-sized ministries and just have agency heads that could do the work,” he said.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Franklin Cudjoe noted that a proper reshuffling would thus have to be policy-led and personnel-led in order to make any significant change in the economy in the shortest possible time.

“And I think that if we had taken a cursory look at the numbers and the kinds of cuts that we wanted to see, major cuts will therefore lead to a rationalization of the ministries that we have. I mean, from 86, we could as well do about 40.

“Really, there can still be stiffer alignment if the President wanted, but the President is an expansionary thinker. He thinks in bigger terms and so we may not necessarily have to quarrel with that. But if I were looking at the numbers, my reshuffling is not just about changing or reordering personnel, it’s actually about cutting the size of government to fit exactly what the economy is looking like now,” he said.

He continued, “And as I’m saying, if we took a staple and cut 6 billion discretionary spending, you’re actually going to cut down on the number of ministries, and that will force realignment or a rationalization of these ministries. So these persons may find themselves in other departments or they may just be taken out of the system entirely.”

He added that the first target for such a reshuffling is the Finance Ministry.

“So my reshuffling is actually in two folds; one, that deals with the department that said we were never going to go to the IMF when indeed the numbers were showing clearly. But, a larger reshuffle will be for me, one that accompanies deeper cuts, and deeper cuts should lead the reshuffling. The reshuffling is not just in terms of personnel but in terms of the reconfiguration of the government system that we have right now,” he said.

Source: myjoyonline.com

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We will pursue everyone who has misused state monies – Mahama

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Speaking on Tuesday, April 16, as part of his "Building the Ghana We Want" trip in the North East Region, he emphasised the necessity of accountability and openness in governance, stating that anybody found guilty of misappropriating monies will face repercussions. The previous president promised to empower investigative and anti-corruption authorities to function properly throughout his term. He hopes to eliminate corruption and maintain Ghana's rule of law by enabling these authorities to carry out their tasks without interference. Mr Mahama encouraged Ghana's young to be positive and asked them to vote for the NDC in the 2024 elections, promising a brighter future under his leadership.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has issued a strong warning to existing government appointees implicated in the misuse of public monies.

He stated unequivocally that anyone guilty of such activities would be held accountable for the harm done to the nation if elected in future elections.

Mr. Mahama emphasised that his objective is not to conduct a witch hunt, but rather to guarantee that state resources are used for their proper purposes, therefore benefiting the Ghanaian people.

Speaking on Tuesday, April 16, as part of his “Building the Ghana We Want” trip in the North East Region, he emphasised the necessity of accountability and openness in governance, stating that anybody found guilty of misappropriating monies will face repercussions.

The previous president promised to empower investigative and anti-corruption authorities to function properly throughout his term. He hopes to eliminate corruption and maintain Ghana’s rule of law by enabling these authorities to carry out their tasks without interference.

Mr Mahama encouraged Ghana’s young to be positive and asked them to vote for the NDC in the 2024 elections, promising a brighter future under his leadership.

He stressed the need for joint work in creating a wealthy and fair society, underlining the role of youth in moulding the country’s future.

“I can assure them that the people of Ghana will hold them accountable for their actions.” We are not intending to witch-hunt anyone, but if you have harmed the people of Ghana and misused their money, you must account for it. So investigative and corruption institutions will operate, and the young of our nation must acknowledge the harm done to them,” he stated.

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Oppong Nkrumah blames the minority for Komenda Sugar Factory delay

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He made this statement during a recent trip to the area to evaluate the coastal defence project. However, some Komenda residents are dissatisfied with Kojo Oppong Nkrumah's request to the Traditional Council to work with the Minority to offer tax breaks. According to them, the chiefs and people have already purchased property to produce sugarcane to feed the factory, which would provide work for the locals. They resisted importing semi-refined sugar for the facility. They have threatened to vote against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) if President Akufo-Addo fails to operationalize the factory despite multiple pledges made to the people.

The Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has blamed the Minority in Parliament for impeding the Komenda Sugar Factory’s operationalization.

According to him, the Minority is resisting the government’s efforts to obtain tax breaks for firms importing semi-refined sugar into the nation in order to jumpstart the sugar mill.

He has asked the Komenda Traditional Council to work with the Minority to provide the tax waiver and begin operations at the facility.

He made this statement during a recent trip to the area to evaluate the coastal defence project.

However, some Komenda residents are dissatisfied with Kojo Oppong Nkrumah’s request to the Traditional Council to work with the Minority to offer tax breaks.

According to them, the chiefs and people had already purchased property to produce sugarcane to feed the factory, which would provide work for the locals.

They resisted importing semi-refined sugar for the facility.

They have threatened to vote against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) if President Akufo-Addo fails to operationalize the factory despite multiple pledges made to the people.

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Abu Sakara explains what led to his union with Alan Kyerematen

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Dr. Sakara stated in an interview with JoyNews' AM Show on Wednesday, April 10, that their partnership transcends personal interests and is entirely dedicated to helping the nation. He stated that their partnership is intended to allow the participation of independent-minded individuals to the country's growth, regardless of political allegiance.

Dr. Abu Sakara Foster, the founder of the National Interest Movement (NIM), has explained the rationale for his partnership with Alan Kyerematen, the founder of the Movement for Change (M4C).

He highlighted that their collaboration is motivated by a shared ambition for the growth of the country.

According to Dr. Sakara, their goal is to implement creative policies that would solve the obstacles impeding the country’s reform plan.

Dr Sakara stated in an interview with JoyNews’ AM Show on Wednesday, April 10, that their partnership transcends personal interests and is entirely dedicated to helping the nation.

He stated that their partnership is intended to allow the participation of independent-minded individuals in the country’s growth, regardless of political allegiance.

“The desire to think outside the box led us to a union of minds and then we said why don’t we create some kind of electoral alliance that will address this but for a change, it is not about you and me but we need to put together a framework and a key understanding that will allow other people to join because then they know that it is not about us,” he said.

When asked who initiated their partnership, he answered that Mr. Kyerematen contacted him.

Dr Sakara explained that this approach took place before Mr. Kyerematen’s loss in the NPP presidential primary.

“Well, I think he approached me first. I know him but I don’t know him that much. He approached me from the point of view of his transformation plan. He approached me not for political purposes but for the purpose of formulating a great transformation plan,” he added.

Independent presidential candidate Alan John Kyerematen announced a strategic alliance with the NIM founder on Thursday, April 4.

This signified the beginning of an alliance known as “The Alliance for Revolutionary Change (ARC)”

In a statement announcing the Alliance’s official debut on Wednesday, April 17, Mr. Kyerematen went into depth about the organization’s goals.

The ARC’s main objective is to bring together Ghanaians from different backgrounds, with an emphasis on women and youth in particular, with the ultimate goal of selecting Ghana’s first independent candidate to be president.

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