President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo has issued a stern warning to appointees, especially the newly sworn-in deputy ministers, who may want to undermine their superiors for their own benefits.
Speaking at the swearing-in of 10 deputy regional ministers at the seat of government – Flagstaff House – Tuesday evening, the president, who turned 73 yesterday, indicated that the only acceptable path is harmonious working relationship with their bosses.
“I will not countenance any act of disloyalty or subversion of your minister; for I will take such an act as disloyalty to me personally and by reference, disloyalty to the party and to the state,” he cautioned.
“Any deputy who thinks the route to advancement lies in your ability to subvert or undermine your minister will sadly make a mistake; you will not profit from that conduct in Akufo-Addo’s presidency.”
“I want you to work with your minister in all sincerity and transparency; that is the guarantee of your success and our collective success,” he told them.
The president quoted Article 256 (2) of the Constitution which states, “The President may in consultation with the minister of state of a region and with the prior approval of parliament, appoint for the region Deputy Regional Minister or Deputy Regional Ministers to perform such function as the President may determine.”
The import of this provision, he explained, “is that you have been appointed not only with the prior approval of parliament, but also with the prior knowledge and impliedly consent of your respective Regional Ministers.”
Furthermore, he indicated that “it means that your first responsibility is to support the work of your Regional Minister; loyalty to the Minister is the fundamental premise for the success of your work.”
Assets Declaration
After administering the oaths of allegiance, office and secrecy, the ‘old boy’ (as the president is fondly called) referred them to the earlier speeches he gave during similar swearing-in of ministers with a strict instruction for each and every one of them to speedily declare their assets to the Auditor General.
“All 36 of the Ministers of the central government have dully filed their Assets Declaration.”
To this end, he charged, “I expect you to do the same expeditiously.”
President Akufo-Addo told the ministers that “we must jealously guard the commitment we have made to the Ghanaian people; we have come to do public service, not advance our own personal fortunes,” whiles expressing confidence in their ability to discharge the duties and succeed, with God’s guidance.
Deputy Western Regional Minister, Gifty Eugenia Kusi, who spoke on behalf of her colleagues, thanked God, the president and the good people Ghana for the opportunity given them to serve the country.
“We promise to obey, we promise to work effectively with our ministers and we also promise that whatever you have said here today, we are going to abide by it and go according to the Constitution of this Republic,” she declared.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent