Executive Director of the Centre for Public Opinion and Awareness (CenPOA), Michael Donyinah Mensah, has described some of President John Dramani Mahama’s appointments as ‘jobs for the boys.’.
The policy analyst posited that the president ought to be guided in appointing competent personalities to help him govern and not reward party loyalists who lack any experience.
Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, we need to get to the point where only competent, skilled, and experienced personalities manage our state institutions and ministries.
He admitted that there are some of the appointments that the persons are qualified for, but the majority of the appointments so far are jobs for the boys. There are some of the appointees who do not have what it takes to be appointed. These individuals do not have any form of experience. Some of the appointments have been handed over to party executives. Running a political party is different from running a government. Some of the roles done are not based on merits but on reward appointments. So I don’t have any special expectations that those appointed will do something extraordinary. It will be the same old story,’’ he told host Kwabena Agyapong.
He stated that, while it was not his place to pass judgement, some critical areas necessitated the presence of individuals with expertise in the field or sector to which they were assigned.
”For example, consider Malik Basintale’s appointment. True, he is an effective communicator and party executive who has contributed significantly to the NDC. However, he lacks experience in creating jobs and fostering youth enterprise. You don’t just appoint anyone to the position. You need someone with extraordinary abilities. I do not see that in the Basintale. He has no work experience. Such an appointment is flawed. I’m not saying he’s not fit, but there may be other areas where he can function better. However, a sensitive area such as youth employment is critical and can make or break a government, so we need experienced youth employment professionals to manage the place.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
