Nobody can pressurize me to reshuffle my ministers – Prez Mills

....BUT THERE WILL A JUDGEMENT DAY IN 2012

President Mills says Mr. Bagbin does not have any criteria to assess the performance of his ministers. Email Print Have Your Say ( 0 ) President J. E. A. Mills has President Mills has played down calls by Majority Leader in Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to reshuffle his ministers. According to the President, Mr. Bagbin does not have any criteria to assess the performance of his ministers, adding that he would reshuffle his ministers at the appropriate time. President Mills said these during an interaction with journalists in Cape Coast over the weekend, in reaction to Alban Bagbin’s call for the president to reshuffle his ministers. “We have been in power for only eight months and nobody can pressurize me to reshuffle my ministers,” he charged. “We would have committed more blunders if we had decided to rush through things,” stressing that “there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Mills’ ministers have been described as ‘mediocre’ by former President Jerry Rawlings, with calls for him to reshuffle which he has often parried. Former president Jerry John Rawlings has been at the forefront of launching vitriolic attacks on President Mills and his choice of ministers, some of whom he has consistently described as ‘those characters’. He has also accused the Appointments Committee of Parliament for endorsing the ministerial nominees presented to them by the president, saying he was disappointed in the committee. According to President Mills, he acknowledges that some District Chief Executives and Ministers are facing lots of challenges in the performance of their duties and have not been up to the task, but he quickly blamed ‘the huge debt left by the NPP government’, indicating they have to clear all these debt before they embark on any meaningful development projects. The president was on a two-day official visit to the Central Region where he addressed the chiefs and people of Mankessim Traditional area, at the Borbor Fante Akwambo festival. He also addressed separate durbars at Gomoa Assin in the Gomoa West District and Essuehyia in the Mfantseman Municipality. He urged the people to exercise patience since his administration is on track to meet their aspirations. President Mills said the 18 percent deficit accrued by the Tema Oil Refinery under the NPP administration has also contributed to the slow pace of development in the country. “I will not talk about the corruption and malpractices that went on under NPP administration since it will be a dent on the image of the (NPP) party,” he stated. He said a committee has been formed to assess the status of Bawjiase Starch Factory, adding NDC government would support any good project that were initiated by the NPP administration. On education, he promised to ensure that the 30percent quota system works in order to enable school children in the area have access to big schools in their catchments area. He re-affirmed his vision to expand the Kotokuraba market and the construction of Cape Coast stadium which is very dear to the heart of the people. Prof Mills also promised to construct a Coca Cola factory in Cape Coast to address the unemployment situation in the area. He pointed out that measures are being put in place to restructure the policies and programmes of the Central Regional Development Commission (CEDECOM) to attract investors. Source: Daily Guide/Ghana