Vikileaks: I decide who to appoint and dismiss without explanation -Prez Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama says he has the sole prerogative to decide whom to appoint and dismiss from his government. And he can do that without any explanation.

Responding to a question on the dismissal of former Deputy Minister of Communications, Victoria Hamah, at his maiden meeting with journalists at the Flagstaff House, the president likened his role as president to a coach who has the license to take a player off the field without answering to anybody.

President Mahama terminated Ms Hamah’s appointment in 2013 after she was heard on a leaked tape alleging that the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, may have influenced the verdict of the election petition case which saw the Supreme Court uphold his (President Mahama) election in 2012.

In his response to why Ms Hamah was dismissed, President Mahama said, “like a coach, a time comes when you must take decisions to move a player off the field. And coaches have the privilege to do so without questioning. And so, as president I have the privilege to decide who serves in my government and who leaves at what time. And so the decision is mine, I have taken it and I take responsibility for it.”

The Chief Justice set up a committee to investigate the allegation which was later dismissed for lack of evidence.