RESHUFFLE WAS INEVITABLE (JAN 6, 2011)

CABINET reshuffles in any governance process are necessary to achieve the vision of the government and give a new impetus to the achievement of national goals.
In such an endeavour, fresh limbs are introduced into the team, tired ones are shown the exit and others given appointments elsewhere with the view to channelling their energies into more productive activities.
With two years left for President J.E.A. Mills to end his first term in office, it was obvious that a Cabinet reshuffle was obvious, more so when the President had declared 2011 as a year of action.
And four days into the New Year, the President has walked the talk of positioning his team to deliver on his pledge to the people.
It is, therefore, surprising that last Tuesday’s Cabinet reshuffle, coming on the heels of petroleum price hikes, has been given weird interpretations as a diversionary tactic to take people’s mind off the new prices.
The price of fuel on the world market has shot up to about $90 per barrel and this, obviously, has a concomitant effect on developing economies such as Ghana.
There was, therefore, no way the government could absorb the price apart from passing it on to consumers as part of the increases. Admittedly, such an increase will have implications for the economy and impact on the cost of living of Ghanaians.
These are difficult decisions which need to be taken in order to address budget deficits which have been occasioned by the shortfall in revenue as against expenditure.
It is partly to address these challenges and accelerate socio-economic transformation that the President has decided to re-energise his administration to face the Herculean task ahead.
Much as the reshuffle is necessary, the DAILY GRAPHIC advises that the full impact of such an exercise would only be realised when the leadership is able to give direction on the implementation of government programmes, in order to achieve the Better Ghana agenda.
It is our hope that those who were affected by the changes and those still at post will continue to work even more efficiently to achieve national development.
The worse enemies of government are not those who have contrary views and opinions. Rather, the enemies are poverty, unemployment, squalor, diseases and lack of potable water which confront both rural and urban dwellers. Fortunately, the government has been able to stabilise the economy and indications are that we will be able to achieve phenomenal development and set the economy on the path of growth.
This optimism becomes even more heightened with the commercial production of oil. While the government remains focused on its agenda, it behoves all to remain united, for united we stand, divided we fall. We should eschew corruption, conflict and tension which can affect national development efforts.
Instead of bashing the government for the reshuffle, which every administration undertakes periodically, it is essential for us to receive the changes in good faith and support the President’s men in their task of nation-pbuilding.
The DAILY GRAPHIC wishes the President’s men well in their new assignments. The advice is that instead of being masters of all that they survey, they should work as a team and involve the people in their various ministries in the decision-making process.
We call on all Ghanaians to take a cue from the President’s declaration of 2011 as action year and be part of the solution to any problem in the rebuilding of the new society outlined in the Better Ghana agenda.