Moses Asaga dropped

Front Page: Daily Graphic, February 7, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills yesterday sent a clear signal of his zero tolerance for deviance among his appointees when he withdrew the nomination of Mr Moses Asaga as the Minister designate for the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing.
Presidential sources said he took the action when it came out that Mr Asaga had side-stepped two members of the Finance Subcommittee of the Government Transitional Team to approve ex gratia payments to former President J. A. Kufuor.
Mr Asaga’s action was said to involve the authorisation of payment of GH C25million.
The other two members of the subcommittee which was constituted to oversee the economic affairs of the state until a substantive minister is appointed are Togbe Afede XIV, Chairman, and Dr Kwabena Duffour, who has been nominated as Finance and Economic Planning Minister designate.
Sources close to the Office of the President told the Daily Graphic that Mr Asaga's nomination was withdrawn because it would be difficult for the President to entrust a ministerial position to a person who would not consult his colleagues or seek clearance on controversial issues before implementing them.
The Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Mahama Ayariga, had earlier confirmed that the President had withdrawn the nomination of Mr Asaga as the Minister designate for the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing but gave no further details.
Mr Asaga once served as a Deputy Finance Minister in the previous National Democratic Congress government headed by former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Mr Asaga, who is also the Member of Parliament of Nabdam, was due to appear before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Thursday, February 12, 2009 to be vetted.