Prez Mahama swears in two deputy ministers
President John Dramani Mahama has counselled his appointees to be tolerant of all people because no one is the repository of all wisdom.
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"Arrogance will not take you anywhere," he told his appointees.
The President gave the advice when he swore in two new deputy ministers at the Flagstaff House on Tuesday.
They are Mr Emmanuel Habuka Bombande, who heads to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, and Mr Joseph Tetteh Angmor, who goes to the Eastern Region.
They took three oaths — official, allegiance and secrecy — which were administered by the President.
Parliamentary approval
The two were among three persons who were recently nominated by President Mahama for deputy ministerial positions.
While Mr Bombande and Mr Angmor went through vetting and parliamentary approval without any hitch, the third nominee, Mr John Oti Bless, had his approval put on hold by Parliament following disparaging remarks he allegedly made against the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, on radio.
Mr Oti Bless, who is the Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North, has since been ordered by the Speaker of Parliament to apologise to the Chief Justice.
Public officials
President Mahama also asked all public officials to be circumspect in the way they relate to the people.
"I always encourage appointees of this government to listen more to the people, to be tolerant of all people because wisdom does not lie in one person's head," he stressed.
Passing phase
Taking a look at personal requests that went to public officials, the President noted: “Our people still have the notion that elective officials have a certain responsibility towards them in terms of their material welfare and so you have a lot of people coming to you with all kinds of requests."
Describing the development as a "passing phase", he said: "As our country develops, the natural role of elected and appointed officials will be more apparent to our people."
As President, he said, he had also faced similar situations, with people going to his house with personal requests.
He advised officials to do everything within their means to assist people who go to them with requests, adding that even giving such people a hearing could give them some encouragement.
He expressed the hope that the two new appointees would excel.
Response
In a response, Mr Bombande promised the President that he and his colleague would live up to expectation.
He said the President's exemplary leadership would motivate them to follow his footsteps.
