Somaliland: Ex-Finance Minister Calls on President-Elect to Name Lean Cabinet

[Deeq A.]

 

By: Farrah Yusuf

HARGEISA–Somaliland’s Ex-finance minister, Hon. Mohamed Hashi Elmi has called on President–designate that his cabinet should not exceed by 15 lean and competent ministers who could deliver. Hon. Hashi said on Sunday that 70 ministers are now in Silanyo’s government which is straining the country’s economy.

The former minister urges that the president-elect should not appoint ministers on tribal basis. He bluntly accused ministers of misappropriating public funds. The minister has asserted that appointing small based cabinet would perform the daily day operations and focus on the difficult task ahead. The minister has revealed that gov’t officials spend public money on the consumption of Khat.

Once asked on reinstating the current ministers serving under outgoing president, Mr. Hashi responded that they have not accomplished anything. He scathingly attacked the cabinet, the house of assembly and the elders have failed to live up to their duties. The former minister has stated that the their is a huge responsibility on president designate to protect the public asset. Hon. Hashi has urged the new Head of State to know that the civil servants and men and women in uniform are in need. He cited that they are not well paid. He took as an instance that during his tenure as finance minister that he made 100% increment for their salaries.

He uttered that he was about to increase the salaries for a second time but said that he was sacked unfortunately. He advised the president elect to give a proper care to the armies and the civil servants. He spoke of the traits that the new president has and said that he is a man of his words and takes decisions. Once asked if he is seeking a cabinet portfolio in the upcoming government and responded that he does not remain ready to serve due to old age. The former treasury minister has called on president elect to emulate the Rwandan president who developed his country’s economy. He also said that Hon. Musa Bihi should emulate the example set by Turkish president and Malaysia.

The President-Elect is due to sworn in to office on 14th December,2017 and once the presidential election results which was submitted to the constitutional court approves it. Hon. Musa Bihi won Somaliland presidential election held on 13 Nov. by defeating his main rival, the former house speaker, Mr. Irro. Hon. Musa garnered 55% while Irro got 40 percent of voted cast. Citizens are waiting with bated breath to know the size of the Council of Ministers that President-designate Musa Bihi will have.  Speculation was rife on who would be included in the Cabinet. The names doing the rounds include Prof. Ahmed Ismail Samatar, Hon. Jamal Ali Husein and Hon. Mohamed Ali Bile.  Former finance minister, Abdiasis Mohamed Samale is poised to be in the new cabinet.

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