…and Okudzeto laughed

Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says his studies would not affect his work Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on Monday scoffed at suggestions that he attends lectures with a police orderly in tow, who would correct lecturers who simply referred to the Deputy Minister without his appropriate ministerial appellations. Giggling at the suggestion by Hot FM’s Adakabre Frimpong Manso on his morning show Monday morning, Okudzeto said such an action would be frivolous and unnecessary in a class of about 100 “very important”, “working” people. The Deputy Minister was responding to recent rumours engendered by newspaper publications that some members of President J.E.A. Mills’ government had enrolled in schools to better their educational qualifications and to improve their delivery in their appointed positions. Their educational pursuits, according to the publications, were interfering with their performance in office and therefore slowing down progress of work of the government. Okudzeto admitted enrolling in a part-time programme together with his colleague deputy Information Minister, James Agyenim Boateng, however he said his [flexible] programme of study takes only about eight hours for the whole week – from Thursday to Saturday, and that it cannot be described as full-time or regular courses for which they are unnecessarily staying away from work. Besides, he said, their enrollment for the courses is with the written permission of the Chief of Staff and it does not in any way interfere with his work. Okudzeto said their enrollment cannot be the first time it is happening because he meets even his seniors and former ministers of the state who are all enrolled in different programmes and the allegations should not be any issue at all. Story by Isaac Yeboah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana