Akufo-Addo’s decision to defer questions to ministers disapponting

MP for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says he was disappointed that President Akufo-Addo deferred questions to his Ministers to answer.

The President at his maiden media engagement at the Flagstaff House Tuesday to mark six months since taking office directed questions relating to the economy and the judiciary to the Vice president, Dr. Mamudu Bawumia and the Attorney-General Gloria Akuffo respectively.

“When he drops the economic question like a hot potato…then I will say that it is not too inspiring; it is not too encouraging,” the former Deputy Education Minister assessed.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show a day after the President’s media encounter, Mr. Ablakwa said Nana Akufo-Addo failed to demonstrate to Ghanaians that he is on top of issues.

“We want to see that our president is on top of the issues,” Mr. Ablakwa stated.

He, however, commended the exercise which over the years has become part of the country’s democracy.

“In many other jurisdictions…Presidents are really cocooned and shielded away from the media and for that matter, the citizenry. It is very good for our country moving forward. Let’s agree that this exercise is good for the country.”

Samuel Jinapor 

Deputy Chief of Staff, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor in a response said: “There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, indeed it is supported by the concept of our government.”

“Every Minister speaks for the president,” Mr. Jinapor maintained, citing the era of John Agyekum Kufuor where the President directed his Ministers to respond to some of the questions posed to him during the “people’s Assembly’ encounters organized during his tenure.

“It is never the case that this has never happened; President Kufuor on almost all the interactions…referred questions to his Ministers,” Mr. Jinapor explained.

Listen to the discussion in the audio attached:

Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Jerry Tsatro Mordy | Email: jerry.mordy@myjoyonline.com, Twitter: @jerrymordy