Private legal practitioner Vickie Bright has expressed disappointment over Deputy Communication Minister-designate Mohammed Adams Sukparu’s inability to clearly define coding during his vetting, raising concerns about his preparedness to support Ghana’s digital transformation agenda.
Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show on Monday, July 28, Ms Bright questioned Mr Sukparu’s competence and urged him to improve his grasp of basic digital concepts.
“I am truly shocked. This is someone about to become a Deputy Minister of State, a pivotal role in a sector crucial to our national development, particularly as we look toward the future,” she remarked.
She referenced the National Democratic Congress’s manifesto, which highlights the Communication Ministry’s expanded role in leading innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence and digital upskilling.
“The NDC manifesto is very clear on the direction for this sector, to the extent that the ministry has even been renamed. This Ministry is set to lead innovation and development in areas like artificial intelligence and digital skills, including training one million Ghanaians in coding,” Ms Bright noted.
Describing Mr Sukparu’s failure to explain coding as a “very basic” oversight, she stressed the need for technical knowledge in such strategic positions.
“The Deputy Minister-designate needs to go and do his homework. I am worried because he will be supporting Sam George, who is very competent and has done well so far. I don’t know whether the minister is going to operate with one hand behind his back,” she added.
Ms Bright emphasised that having qualified leaders in key sectors is crucial for national development.
“Competence is important; we simply cannot afford to have unqualified people in positions that directly affect national development. Nation-building is vital, and the Deputy Minister must fully engage with the Ministry’s programmes,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, a comment from the Director of Cyber 1 Defence Communications suggested that Mr Sukparu’s responses seemed to focus more on implementation than on technical understanding.
