Chief Of Staff And Media Relations Minister To Lose Jobs?

Minister for Presidential Jake Obetsebi Lamptey is to lose his additional job as the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President. This follows moves by the NPP administration to separate the positions of Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs. Subsequently, Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey who holds the two positions will hold on to the Ministerial position only. The position of Chief of Staff is likely to go to one Mr. Kojo Mpiani, known as a close associate of President Kufuor and a strategist of the NPP campaign team during the 2000 general elections. Mr. Mpiani, a banker, worked with the National Investment Bank and later joined the erstwhile People’s National Party as Member of Parliament for Mampong South. He went into exile after the 1981 coup d’etat. The ‘Evening News’ newspaper reports that the Minister for Media Relations, Ms Elizabeth Ohene could also lose her job anytime soon. Sources say the changes could be attributed to the cold working relationship between the Minister and some of her staff as well as the Presidential Press Corps. When contacted, Ms Ohene could not deny or confirm the story saying that she can comment on such matters only when she has been directed to so. Asked if the President has discussed the cabinet reshuffle with her she said “I cannot say whether he has discussed it with me or not. What I am saying is that even if he has, it is not right for me to say it. That is why as Ministers of State, we swear the oath of secrecy so I’m sorry I cannot comment on it.” She was however quick to add that the constitution has vested the powers of the land in the President and he can therefore decide to make any changes in his government at anytime. Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey could not be reached for his comments since he had travelled on an official assignment.