The Volta Youth For Unity (VOFU) has expressed surprise at calls for dismissal of Youth and Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah.

The 'Informer' newspaper on Monday, April 28, 2014 published, what it said were calls from "stakeholders" for president John Mahama to sack the Minister. According to the paper, Mr. Afriyie Ankrah's claim he knew nothing about an advertisement in the dailies for companies to bid for new modules for Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA).

The publication claimed: "the Minister exhibited gross incompetence when he found out that the scheme’s Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Kobby Acheampong, had unilaterally defied the President’s directive that all modules under GYEEDA except sanitation, should be put on hold".

However, VOFU in release signed by its spokesperson, Collins Dwumoga, described the publication as "shameful" and having the potential of creating disaffection towards Mr. Afriyie Ankrah and also to impugn his hard-won credibility.

“We are very surprised at the behavior of these faceless and disloyal elements who are working so hard to undo the good works and phenomenal performance by the President Mahama’s administration”, the statement said.

The group said president Mahama has the sole right to decide who he appoints and or dismiss, maintaining that it is not the place of any individual or a group, to influence his decision.

According to the group, Mr. Afriyie Ankrah is one of the ministers in the Mahama administration who has demonstrated unflinching loyalty to the country through service with humility, to ensure the success of the better Ghana agenda.  

“In our view Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has been one of the best performing Ministers under President Mahama’s administration and any attempts by any group of selfish individuals to tarnish his image must be resisted and treated with contempt.”