Acting Spokesperson to the President, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, has clarified the circumstances surrounding the lateness of Gender Minister-designate Agnes Naa Momo Lartey to the swearing-in ceremony on Friday.
The development has generated reactions from a cross-section of Ghanaians since Friday when the event took place.
Addressing the issue during an interview on Accra-based TV3, he attributed her delayed arrival to an unexpected family emergency compounded by logistical constraints occasioned by the Jubilee House schedule.
Mr Ofosu Kwakye explained the rigorous schedule President John Mahama and his team managed in the lead-up to the event, which affected the swearing-in arrangements.
“What happened was that this morning, President Mahama is scheduled to travel to Angola, Tanzania and Kenya for some very important government-related business and yesterday, he had a heavy schedule. We had to go to go to Ho and come back. He was even scheduled to be at the SWAG Awards event, so last minute he had to rope in the Vice President to stand in for him,” the spokesperson noted.
He explained that the swearing-in ceremony was initially planned for six ministerial appointees whose nominations had been approved by Parliament.
However, ongoing parliamentary deliberations prompted last-minute adjustments.
“So we were liaising with Parliament to see whether they will finish the approval, so that we add all of them to the list, and then swear them in. By 4 pm, and at the time when we were in Ho, we were just about to set off to come to Accra, it became apparent the Parliament could not meet the deadline of approving others, a decision had to be taken,” he said.
Efforts were made to contact the six approved nominees, and five of them were nearby and could arrive at the Jubilee House within minutes.
However, Naa Momo Lartey had traveled out of Accra due to a family emergency.
“Naa Momo truthfully indicated that a family emergency had taken her out of Accra, and therefore it was going to be very close. We encouraged her to come, nonetheless, and that if she got there in time, she would be added. If for some reason, she could not make it in time, we will do it another time. So if you observe carefully, President Mahama was very specific in mentioning the names and giving them KPIs as you describe it.
“So we did two alternative speeches, one that anticipated their presence, and one that anticipated her absence. So immediately we had to switch because we were prepared for that scenario. It was where credit as you showed up anyway because it was touch-and-go. Where she was there was no way, given all the traffic, that she could get there in time. But we were pushing to see that if she is able to make it fine, if not, it’s not a big deal and next week, when President Mahama does it [she will be sworn in].”
The spokesperson acknowledged public criticism of the delay but noted that the situation was beyond her control.
“It’s not that she was late. But as I said, we respect public sentiment… If the Ghanaian family had known this, I’m sure they would have tampered their criticism,” he said.
Felix Ofosu Kwakye assured that Naa Momo Lartey would be sworn in next week upon President Mahama’s return, dismissing any notion of fault on her part.
“In fact, she could have decided not to be there at all. It was out of respect for the president, she made an effort. I think she got in two minutes after the President has started, that’s all. And she really pushed it close. But it was not her fault,” he added.
Among the Ministers sworn in was Asawase legislator, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, who was vetted for the role of Interior Minister just hours before the House’s deliberations.
Additionally, nominees for ministerial roles in the Northern, Oti, Volta, and Eastern regions received the nod from Parliament.
Therefore, Ali Adolf John, John Kwadwo Gyapong, James Gunu and Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey are substantive Ministers for their respective regions.
Voice of Felix Kwakye Ofosu
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