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25.06.2007 General News

Thank You, Gentlemen - President Lauds Eight Resigned Ministers

By Daily Graphic
Thank You, Gentlemen - President Lauds Eight Resigned Ministers
25.06.2007 LISTEN

New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirants who are ministers of President John Agyekum Kufuor's Cabinet now have the freedom to campaign openly without looking behind their shoulders for fear of the President's big stick descending on them.

This follows the green light given them by the President who, at the weekend, not only accepted their resignation but also gave them a grace period up to the first week in July to wind up and leave office for new persons to be appointed to take their place.

Additionally, the President commended the departing ministers for the invaluable contributions they made individually and collectively to enhance the fortunes of the NPP and the country as a whole during their tenure of office.

The commendation followed the President's acceptance of the resignation of the ministers which he had earlier sought if the aspirants intended to carry on with their campaigns among the NPP delegates to lead the party in the 2008 general election.

The commendation, which was contained in a statement signed by Mr D.K. Osei, Secretary to the President, and issued in Accra at the weekend, said, “The President thus accepted their offer to resign and expressed his gratitude for their immense and invaluable contribution to the development of the country during their tenure as ministers.”

The Daily Graphic had earlier reported the resignation of the ministers and the July deadline given them to vacate their offices to pave the way for a Cabinet reshuffle in which new appointments would be made by the President to replace them.

The statement said, “After frank and open discussions, an understanding was reached that the ministers should step aside from government soon after the AU Summit to enable them to concentrate on their individual efforts to win the party's nomination and also enable the government to continue with its work without any distraction throughout the hectic period ahead.”

According to the statement, President Kufuor “on Wednesday, June 20, met with NPP executives and ministers of his Cabinet who intend to stand for the flag bearer position of the party when nominations open in September, in accordance with the NPP constitution”.

“The meeting, chaired by the President, was aimed at ensuring effective continuity of government's work and programme while also ensuring sufficient space for the ministers to pursue their laudable ambitions,” it explained.

“The ministers, in turn, committed themselves to the continued success of the party and the government of President Kufuor and promised to work hard to ensure that the NPP retained power in the next general election,” the statement concluded.

The issue on which the President has taken action stemmed from widespread public concern that the active campaigning the minister/aspirants were embarking upon across the country for the votes of NPP delegates was adversely impacting upon their official duties, in addition to the legal and ethical questions the use of state resources for personal campaigns evoked.

Over the weekend Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, one of the minister/aspirants, answered these concerns when he publicly announced his resignation at a press conference at the Tourism Ministry and packed bag and baggage out of the office, saying, “From now on call me the former Minister of Tourism; I am out of office.”

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