Timely warning

Whilst swearing in Deputy Ministers of state at the Castle Osu on Monday, President Mills admonished them not to undermine the substantive Ministers that they are going to work with, in the hope that if the Minister fails, the deputy would automatically be promoted to take charge of the Ministry. “If the Minister has to go, you the Deputy Minister would go too”, he said.

The Chronicle wishes to commend the President for coming out with such a timely warning because it is one issue that can undermine his administration. Deputy Ministers are supposed to work to complement the efforts of their substantive Ministers, but what we witness most of the time is the situation where some of them try to project themselves as substantive Ministers because of their closeness to the presidency or power brokers within the ruling party.

The Chronicle believes that any Deputy Minister who undermines his or her boss is rather stifling the progress of the Ministry and the country as a whole, since policies that would have been formulated to serve the best interest of the country would not be forth coming.

Looking at the global economic crisis that is staring Ghanaians in the face, the government has huge responsibility to take the bull by the horns and to give respite to the people. It is, therefore, important that Ministers and their deputies work in a concerted manner for the betterment of their Ministry.

It is the hope of The Chronicle that the deputy ministers would attach seriousness to the warning that has been issued to ensure that our development goals are achieved.