<<Print>>

We doubt whether the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, understands what governance is all about, especially the arm of government to which he belongs- the executive. The absence of an in-depth orientation programme for such persons, who President Mills has abruptly and unexpectedly catapulted to such high offices, has for far too long taken its toll on governance. The import of a Legislative Instrument (LI) is something beyond the ken of this man- little wonder that after its operationalisation, even when he is part of Parliament, it still sounds Greek to his ears. Otherwise, why would he stretch populism the way he did in the twilight of last week when he assured Okada operators in the Greater Accra Region that he would support them to breach the LI? He erroneously thinks that laws can be varied in some parts of the country and that he, Hon. Afotey Agbo, has the power to stop the application of some of these legislations in the region he manages. For a man with a shallow or no knowledge of the principle of separation of powers or collective decision, are we not expecting too much from him in terms of efficiency? He sought to win the hearts of the motorcycle owners at the expense of a freshly enacted law regarding their operations in a way which exposed him to all shades of vitriolic attacks. Poor fellow. What does he mean by if Okada cannot be stopped in Tamale then it should not be stopped in Accra? From such an ethnocentric utterance, one can determine his intelligence level. Stark illiterate or close to one? Ghanaians can best judge. With a new position as regional minister, he appears to be experiencing a challenge adapting to the orderly life of a minister. The appointment of persons not primed for ministerial appointments is a feature of the Mills/Mahama administration. It is a matter of regret that a minister would dare the law in this fashion. When ACP Awuni Angwubutoge orders his personnel to commence arresting and prosecuting motorcyclists who breach the LI, what would Mr. Afotey Agbo do? March to the MTTU yard in Accra Central and demand the head of that gentleman just like some NDC thugs, led by Ade Coker, attempted? Such cheap populism erodes the seriousness of governance with a tendency to reducing it to a big joke that can prompt a chest paining laughter. Was it not his NDC Government that initiated and ensured the passage of the Legislative Instrument (LI)? Where was he when the law was being passed? We are glad that the MTTU Commanding Officer has rolled out a public education programme to have members of the public understand the implication of the LI, regardless of the effusions of the minister. If the minister is not stopped, he would call on motorists to receive calls while driving and even send text messages. What a crazy way to seek votes as elections draw near. Oh Ghana!