I really did not imagine seeing Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah being made a Minister of State even under the tenure of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana considering the fact that the Ahwoi’s were still around the presidency.

Mr. Ato Ahwoi is reported to have said Spio will only become a Minister over his dead body and as far as I know, Mr. Ato Ahwoi is still alive. Therefore I’m beginning to wonder what has changed.

Could it be that the President is trying to trap Spio with this appointment with the hope that Spio won’t contest him in the 2016 NDC primaries? Presently I think the only formidable candidate that the NDC has to succeed President John Mahama is Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah.

Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah’s inclusion as a cabinet Minister in itself is not a bad move considering the experience he has gathered over the years. But what I’m also wondering is how he will relate to colleague cabinet Ministers who harshly criticized him when he described the Late President Mills’ ministers as “Team B”.

What I’m also wondering is whether the current Ministers of State belong to the “Team A” category or “Team B” category. If they belong to the “Team A” category then I can understand why Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah would accept the appointment. The appointment now allows him to relate to his “class” at cabinet meetings.

However if the Ministers are still in the “Team B” category then I can’t understand what Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah will be doing with “Team B” Ministers. Has Spio now reduced his status from a “Team A” Minister to a “Team B” Minister? Some of those he described as “Team B” Ministers are still in Cabinet.

Is it that Spio’s only motive for criticizing the Late President Mills was just to force him to appoint him as a Minister of State? Then I can imagine there is a lot to gain from a Ministerial position. Even Victoria Hammah, a Deputy Minister of State wanted to make $1m before leaving politics. Then one can imagine how much a substantive Minister can make.

Spio is reported to have supported the 2012 campaign of the NDC with money. If Vicky Hammah's analogy is anything to go by, then a Ministerial position would give him the means to recoup his investment and even make some profit I guess.

Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah’s performance at the Ministry of Trade and Industry will be a mini referendum on his chances of getting the nod to lead the NDC in future. If he fails, he will have no basis contesting. However if he performs creditably he will have the bragging right. I told you so, is what he will say to the delegates.

Maybe Spio is just running out of piss. I would have advised him to rather drink more water to continue pissing in. But he chose otherwise. He decided to dive right into his piss.

I wish Spio the very best in his political journey and I will advise him to watch his words. Whatever you say can bite you where it hurts on a later date.

May God continue to bless us all.

 

By Alfred Mortey

alfredshaq@yahoo.co.uk