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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
 Posted - 05 Dec 2006 : 01:08:56
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Foroyaa Editorial
Who Will Advice The President?
The state media has been broadcasting the remarks of the President during his meeting with President Abdoulaye Wade’s envoy and the swearing in of new cabinet members. In each case the remarks went far in excess of what is demanded by the situation.
In terms of the swearing in of new cabinet members what is best is always to focus on the constitutional requirements, the qualification of the appointee and then can give advice on how the person can help to promote the ideal of collective responsibility.
In short, section 72 of the Constitution states that “The Vice President and secretaries of state shall be responsible for the Departments of State and other business of the government as the President assigns to them. In making assignments, the President shall have regard to the desirability of ensuring that such responsibilities are entrusted to competent persons with relevant qualifications or experience.”
Hence, the swearing in of a cabinet member should be marked by the elaboration of the demands of the cabinet post, the indication of the qualification or area of competence of the appointee and an advice on what is expected to ensure best performance of duty. Such an approach helps a President’s speech to be focused and helps him or her to avoid diplomatic slippage that can earn one bad press.
In the same vein, speeches that should be associated with visits by foreign envoys and their Gambian counterparts to a head of state should be carefully guarded to ensure that they do not go outside the bounds of the term of reference and level of authority of the envoy.
The best performing President is one who allows himself or herself to be guided by the collective wisdom of a cabinet, a public service or the people in general.
Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 108/2006, 4-5 December, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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