Emmanuel Bombande
President John Mahama yesterday announced the nomination of Emmanuel Bombande as a Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in a new wave of appointments, in what pundits have described as ‘injury time’ ministers – less than six months to election.
He was nominated alongside two others – the former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Upper Manya Krobo, Joseph Agmor Tetteh and the Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North, John Oti Bless – as Deputy Ministers for the Eastern Region and Local Government & Rural Development respectively.
These were contained in a statement signed by Communications Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah.
The nominations are apparently to appease their restive tribesmen, who are said to be angry at the Mahama administration for sidelining them.
Until his nomination as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr Bombande was the Executive Director of the West Africa Peace Building Network (WANEP), a civil society group committed to conflict resolution, peace building and development planning.
He was very vociferous during the days of the erstwhile Kufuor-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, but has been lost in the media space for some time now.
Interestingly, the president’s nominee for the position of a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Oti Bless, is to con the Kokombas to get their votes in the November elections because they claim that they had been sidelined by the Mahama administration.
He is a member of the Government Assurances and Roads and Transport Committees of Parliament.
It is not clear if it is the same Oti Bless who is a regular panelist on controversial afternoon political programme ‘Pampaso,’ on Montie FM hosted by Salifu Maase aka Mugabe. The station is noted for its vitriolic attacks on opponents of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) as well as the use of intemperate language, heavily aided by the host.
Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Mugabe have been summoned to appear before the Supreme Court today to explain why they should not be committed for contempt.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu