Agyarko Deserved Sack – Justice Short

Fmr. CHRAJ Boss, Justice Emile Short 

In attempt to winning the fight against corruption in this current administration, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday 6^th August, dismissed the Energy Minister Mr. Boakye Agyarko to satisfy the public’s outcry on his actions relating to the renegotiation of AMERI Power agreement.

It is in view of this that the former Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Justice Emile Short waved into the matter relating to the dismissal of the Minister for Energy, saying the minister did not do his work properly and that he deserved the sacking. He further praised the president for his swift action in the process.     

On Monday, August 6^th, the President, Nana Akufo Addo relieved Mr. Boakye Agyarko from his post with immediate effect. Though no official reason was given in the release, it is widely known that it was as a result of the controversial renegotiation agreement between the Energy Minister and AEMRI Power Group where the president had earlier mentioned that he was misled.   

Adding to this development, Justice Short stated that the fact that Mr. Agyarko misled the president meant that the Energy Minister failed to do his work properly as expected of him.   

“Yes sure [he deserved the sacking], because to the extent that he has misled the president, he has to accept that he hasn’t done his work properly. It’s unfortunate because he appears to be energetic person, but this is a serious matter and there are so many institutions and individuals calling for his sack. That is what the president has done”, he told The Manual. 

Justice Short further stated that the president cannot read every document that is brought before him and that he relies on his ministers and advisers for onward approval and advice. He opined that his dismissal will send a strong signal to all ministers to be weary of their actions in matters relating to their work.

“Everybody was calling for him to be dismissed. The president cannot read every document. He has to rely on his ministers and advisers. So if he was misled by the Minister for Energy, he [Boakye Agyarko] has to be held responsible. The fact that he has been sacked will be a deterrent to other ministers and they will do more due diligence”, Justice Short, who was once a former judge for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda mentioned.

Following his dismissal, the president has asked Mr. Boakye Agyarko to hand over his office to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Mr. John Peter Amewu who will act temporarily as the Minister for Energy until a substantive appointment is made.