The Presidency has disclosed that there would be no replacement for the former deputy Trade and Industry Minister who resigned after breaching coronavirus safety protocols.
“It is extremely unlikely, completely unlikely that the President will announce a replacement for Carlos Ahenkorah” its Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin he said on Asempa FM, in an interview monitored by reportghana.com.
The deputy minister, Carlos Ahenkorah resigned in the early hours of Friday, July 3, 2020, after he breached the COVID-19 laws.
Mr. Ahenkorah admitted to visiting some public places including some voter registration centers after he had tested positive for COVID-19, an infectious disease that has killed 117 in Ghana.
Shortly after his admission, there were calls on social media for his dismissal.
A statement from the Presidency said Mr. Ahenkorah had acted “honorably” in tendering in his resignation.
Speaking to his statement announcing the resignation, the Communications Director also dispelled reports, the president had given the Tema West MP the option of either resigning or getting the sack.
‘There was no ultimatum’, he said.
He also explained that the impending elections also means a replacement is out of the president’s immediate considerations.
“So I don’t think a replacement will be announced soon,” Eugene Arhin said.
The Trade and Industry Ministry, until the resignation of Mr. Ahenkorah, had two deputies.
He said it would be prudent that the other deputy, Robert Ahomka Lindsay performs any additional task his former colleague left in office.
Carlo’s resignation loomed as the government has been accused of selectivity in punishing persons who flout coronavirus safety protocols.
This was after the governing party’s parliamentary primaries were fraught with severe breaches of the protocols.
Beyond calling the breaches regrettable, no action has been taken.
In the case of a pastor who flouted restrictions on public gathering last April, he was sentenced while on June 9, some 10 persons were fined a combined 120,000 cedis for the same.
In default, they were to spend four years in jail.
Carlos Ahenkorah’s indiscretion is seen as a test case for the government’s commitment to punishing erring appointees and officials.
Despite his resignation, the main opposition, NDC, and pressure group, OccupyGhana, have called for police investigations leading to possible prosecution.
