Monday,
November 4, 2013
Folks, Dr. Tony Aidoo , Head of Policy, Evaluation and Oversight
Unit at the Presidency, is out again, raising his concerns of neglect to a
higher notch for public attention. He is reported to be demanding answers from the
government regarding the status of his office. Reasons?
i.
He and his office are denied “the needed funds
to run his office”
ii.
His outfit has been rendered almost redundant
and dormant since the death of President John Atta Mills
iii.
Prosper Bani, Chief of Staff has not shown
courtesy to him by failing to acknowledge the letters that he has sent to the
government to explain issues for him to know why his office is being so
maltreated—in effect, lack of courtesy to him.
It
has been reported that “a frustrated Tony Aidoo told the media that problems
such as non-payment of salaries of his staff for the last six months were not
issues that he would normally put out for public consumption. He, however, said
his outfit had been abandoned by the NDC administration for no apparent reason”.
He said many more:
- President Mahama had been made aware of these
predicaments about nine months ago and had promised to resource the office.
- His readiness to throw in the towel and walk away at any
time, if his services were no longer needed.
- He has written numerous letters to the Chief of Staff,
Mr. Prosper Bani, asking that a bold decision be made on his somewhat
'defunct' position in government.
- His letters to the Chief of Staff on regulating the
appointments of his staff and clear definitions on the functions of his office
have been disregarded.
- It appears his office, in practical sense, is defunct,
but administratively, he always receives correspondence from the
Presidency which bears the letterhead of his position.
Expression of genuine frustration
or concern? Yes. Any particular reason why President Mahama won’t support Dr.
Aidoo’s work? I have no idea but can guess that there is something amiss.
Pertinent questions:
·
Why
did the late President Mills establish the Policy, Evaluation and Oversight Unit at the Presidency? Was
it because of the need for direct input from that Unit to assist the President
in knowing the state of affairs regarding the policies that his government
enunciated and implemented? What did that Unit do to that effect to warrant its
being retained in the Mahama administration?
·
Why has the government turned round to
disregard it to warrant Dr. Aidoo’s outbursts? Has this Unit justified its
existence by way of performance? Or, is it just now being exposed as a
redundant unit whose work is already being done by other state institutions?
·
What prevents President Mahama and the Chief of
Staff from spilling the beans to lay minds at ease—if, indeed, Dr. Aidoo’s work
is irrelevant or if the Unit isn’t providing the input needed to solve problems
regarding policy implementation?
·
What will Ghana lose without this Unit? In
other words, is this Unit in existence just to serve purposes of job-for-the-boys
and is now exposed as such to be trampled upon? Who is to take the bold
decision to disband it on that score? Or is the President playing hide-and-seek
to wear Dr. Aidoo and his Unit down and out of contention?
We
acknowledge the fact that for a President to establish such a Unit at the
Presidency, he must have seen the need for direct support to help him be
abreast of the times as far as his government’s policy initiatives and their
impact on national life are concerned. Was that the motivation for the late
President Mills’ establishment of this Unit? What has changed for President
Mahama not to want that Unit anymore and treat it this way as Dr. Aidoo is
chafing over?
You
see, folks, the issues emerging over the relationship between the Presidency
and appointees cannot be glossed over as infinitesimal nor should we just
dismiss the grouchy functionaries as being petty or “enemies within” the
government. They highlight deeper-level problems that we must be interested in
as citizens wishing that our leaders would be up-and-doing to make life livable
for us through the policies that they enunciate and implement.
And
the rationale behind government policies should be clearly understood and
appreciated so that nobody takes the situation for granted. If, indeed,
President Mahama and his team are bent on solving national problems through the
policies that they enunciate and implement, then, they should not be afraid of
supporting a Unit that is tasked with monitoring those policies and reporting
on their impact.
In
this vein, it beats my understanding why Dr. Aidoo’s Unit is being
shortchanged. Is anybody hiding anything? What for? Or, is the centre refusing
to hold for the Mahama administration? Let no one be deceived into thinking
that nation building is a child’s play thing. From what is emerging, I am
tempted to suspect that some needless head-butting is going on in officialdom
that must be stopped forthwith!!
As
government functionaries come out to bare their teeth, they paint a nasty
picture of the government and President Mahama’s governance style which, in and
of itself, has the tendency to erode public confidence in him. Within the past
two days, we’ve been given that picture by Alban Bagbin and Dr. Aidoo. How many
more will follow suit?
As
the economic situation worsens and Ghanaians sit on tenterhooks, anything that
portrays the Mahama-led administration in a bad light should prick everyone’s
concern. That is why it is imperative for the President to be on top of the
game (of politics) and do all he can to ensure that the boat is not rocked at
will. He must stamp his authority on the administration and get things done!
In
this early part of his reign, one expects more dynamism and focus than what has
ensued so far. Is he listening at all?
I
shall return…
- E-mail: mjbokor@yahoo.com
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