President John Evans Atta Mills has made changes to three regional ministerial offices, according to an Independence Day release signed by Mr. J.K. Bebaako-Mensah, Secretary to the President.
The most significant change is the posting of Victor Smith, one-time Special Aide to former President Jerry John Rawlings, to the Residency at Koforidua, as Eastern Regional Minister.
Mr. Smith, who was asked to write his own dismissal letter by a text message from his former boss about three years ago, was, until his appointment, Ambassador to the Czech Republic.
His posting to the Eastern Region is being interpreted by political analysts as a means of aiding the former ambassador in his fight to unseat the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Abuakwa North Constituency in the December elections.
Mr. Smith, the official candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), is engaged in a gargantuan battle with Mr. J.B. Danquah Adu of the NPP, in a straight fight for the seat, which has been won by the NPP since the 1996 elections.
Victor Smith’s new appointment, according to those with a working knowledge of national politicking, is to aid the Akyem agenda of embarrassing the NPP presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in his backyard.
Meanwhile, the incumbent Regional Minister, Dr. Apea-Kubi, who courted bad press last year for a verbal assault of journalists in the region, has been shipped to the Office of the President as Minister of State, a position which could be equated to the political equivalent of Siberia.
In a dramatic Independence Day move, Nii Armah Ashietey has lost his position as Greater Accra Regional Minister. No reason was assigned for his removal, but political analysts believe it could be connected with the bad publicity he courted for the President and his party, when payment to National Youth Employment officers in the region were effected from a room at his residence not too long ago.
Nii Ashietey has been replaced by Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, Member of Parliament for Kpone-Katamanso. Another casualty in the Independence Day reshuffle is the Volta Regional Minister, Joseph Z. Amenowede, who has ended his tour of office in the NDC administration.
His position has been taken by Henry Ford Kamel, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
