On Akufo-Addo’s reshuffle and matters arising: IMANI’s Kofi Bentil writes

So there’s been a reshuffle.

I’m hearing plenty of things. Even people who were criticising Prez Akuffo Addo for never reshuffling, who say our woes are because of that, are now complaining and asking why he has reshuffled!!!

To be fair, they have a point! This reshuffle should have happened 2 years ago, but it’s here now, and there’s a saying that ‘better late than never’ that applies well here.

A lot can be done, even in injury time.

Remember just a few days ago, Ghana was winning comfortably, but in 4 minutes, we went from winning to crashing out? Now we can’t explain how that happened despite a bill of millions of dollars!!! So a lot can happen in a short time! and whole trajectories can change in a matter of minutes. We have most of the year to go, so I believe this can be consequential.

I sincerely hope Mr.President allows the flagbearer to lead this team because he really has the most to lose or gain, and I believe leadership is everything, so let him lead and let’s get something out of this reshuffle.

I also hear complaints that these are people who will spend time campaigning…. Fair point, but see, I prefer to hand things to people who have something to lose or gain than to people who don’t!!!!

Why would you give a serious job to one who suffers no consequences for its success or failure??? There is very good merit in selecting people who are campaigning to be ministers. If they fail, they pay, if they succeed, they benefit!!

This is objectively better than the option of choosing people who have nothing at stake!!

This is even more important because we all agree we should set off on a different path than where we’ve tread in the past.

This is again why I urge Mr. President to allow the flagbearer to lead this phase. He should relax and let the flagbearer run things for this last lap.

I also hear some people have been appointed to the position of ‘Puppet Master’ and there’s a suggestion they will be playing ‘Wizard of OZ’ in this last lap, running things from behind a curtain.

Well, I can understand the sentiment. It is a sensible supposition!! All this is born from the simple fact that people don’t see why Mr. President cannot simply let his brother rest!!! Why else will he be hanging around if he doesn’t have unfinished business or some other agenda? And seeing that this shifting is not voluntary but the result of pressure from within and without, I understand that sentiment.

Honestly, if I could advise Mr. President, I would say, boss, take a bow. It’s over, and the last days are dangerous, so please clean up and ride off.

And to my reappointed brother, I would say, Take a bow, bro. You did what you could; what else can you do at this time? Of course, a lot can be done in a short time, but you are not the one to do anything now!!! Leave, please take a bow. If you don’t, everyone will watch you with a sneer and suspicion. It is best if you take a bow and let things be.

On the point that you will be a puppet master, bro, it will bring you more pain than you know. It won’t work, and there’ll be nothing good from that. Please take a bow!! Let the flagbearer run this last shift!!! Of course, you will be consulted, but don’t accept an official position.

Now about puppet masters:

The sentiment is palpable that the new Minister of Finance will be micromanaged from behind. I can understand that, but I am also here to tell you a few things.

1. The design of our constitution is such that THE NEW MoF CANNOT BE MICROMANAGED UNLESS HE ALLOWS IT.
2. I hear you say, ‘But what can he do to resist that? HE CAN DO EVERYTHING!!! They need him more than he needs them!!

And I mean both the sitting President and the Flagbearer. Yes, he is their appointee, but if he messes up, they will pay the ultimate price, both by losing badly and being exposed and embarrassed, and possibly more if a new government comes in.

They need him to mend the wounds and resolve as many things as possible in this short time. If they mess with him, a load of crap can descend on them very fast!! There are still crucial issues to deal with with the IMF, external creditors, etc., and internally, DDE, and bristling issues on many fronts.

They need a steady mind as Minister of Finance!! He is their appointee, but look at it this way: his 4 fingers are in their mouths, but their 10 fingers are in his mouth. They can hurt each other.

Whatever happens to the new Minister is mostly going to be what he allows!!

If I were him, I would signal clearly that if I am not allowed to work, I will resign!! Of course, everyone can be replaced, but it’s not that easy to change strikers during injury time, so the new minister has some leverage.

In short, he will be micromanaged if he allows it. He can do a lot to respectfully resist that and function.

On top of the above, there are some constitutional issues. The Constitutional Authority of the President on Finance is delegated by appointment to the substantive Finance Minister, whoever he is; he can choose to NEVER take instruction from anyone except the President himself.

Indeed, he has to listen to advice but he has full authority to ignore it all.

If the President is unhappy with him, he can fire him, but until then, make no mistake, the substantive finance minister is the boss on Finance. Not even the head of EMT or sitting VP; indeed the flag bearer cannot order him to do or not do anything!! Unless he agrees.

I hope the flagbearer is allowed to run things, and I hope (and believe) the new Minister will work closely with him, but I say that, based on the working of our constitution, NO ONE HAS AUTHORITY TO INSTRUCT THE SUBSTANTIVE (new)MINISTER OF FINANCE EXCEPT THE SITTING PRESIDENT!!

So if there’s a puppet master, it is the sitting President.

No one has any power to force any ideas on the Finance Minister unless the President wants that!!

So whose reshuffle is this?

We all know Mr. President has resisted a reshuffle throughout his tenure. So it’s fair to believe that this was pushed and won by Dr. Bawumia. Clearly, flag bearers have more power than VPs!!!

If this is so, as I believe, then credit to him, but he should push harder to be allowed to run things for this period so he can start showing what difference he can make! Maybe my prayer will be answered!!! If it is answered, I believe the tide will turn.

That’s why I hope he grows in power from now on. He should stop being VP, start being a flagbearer in all earnest, and negotiate to be the ‘injury time’ President, just like he negotiated a deft pivot from the present President. If he does this, Ghana will be better!

He should also negotiate a pact with the incoming parliamentarian hopefuls and the present ones in parliament, to work on passing some good legislation in the time left. It will prove what he can do!!

You already know where I stand; we are blessed that DMB is in this race. I pray they let him loose and let him work.

In closing, let me mention the removal of nuisance taxes, which is becoming a ping pong game between the parties! Ghana wins!!

Guys, we are in a ‘legislative sweet spot’. All the powers are aligning behind something Ghanaians want, i.e., abolishing nuisance taxes!!

I hear the NDC is saying they will move Parliament to abolish the annoying taxes Dr. Bawumia has already promised to abolish. Please Do IT. Do it!!

As long as we are moving in the right direction, you have my support. Do it!!! Take the credit, do it!!

Ghana wins, so please Do IT!!!!

I wonder why you haven’t done it after Prez Mahama promised to abolish it. Anyway, better late than never, so please DO IT!!!

It’s rare that your minds meet like this across party lines.

JM wants to do it. DMB wants to do it. NDC Parliamentarians want to do it. Most importantly, Ghanaians want it. Please do it!!

After all is said and done, regardless of who you prefer, spare a moment to thank God that we have this beautiful country where we jostle vigorously on ideas instead of descending into mayhem.

Let us keep that; it’s the height of civilization that we can disagree and live together in harmony.

Ghana will be better tomorrow, as long as we keep it together.… selah.