Private legal practitioner Vickie Bright has called on Deputy Communications Minister-designate Mohammed Adams Sukparu to enhance his understanding of digital concepts—particularly coding—following what she described as an inadequate response during his vetting session. Her comments have sparked concerns about the nominee’s readiness to support the ministry’s increasingly technical mandate.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Monday, Ms. Bright expressed her disappointment, stating that Mr. Sukparu’s lack of clarity on basic digital terminology raises serious questions about his preparedness.
“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 said.
A Critical Sector Demands Competence
Ms. Bright underscored the urgent need for digital literacy and technical competence at leadership levels, especially given the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s policy vision for the sector.
“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,” she noted.
Describing the inability to define coding as “very basic,” she insisted:
“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.”
Concerns Over National Development
Ms. Bright emphasized that appointments to such technical ministries must be based on more than political alignment, stressing that unqualified leadership could hinder national progress.
“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 said.
Cybersecurity Expert Weighs In
In a related view, the Director of Cyber 1 Defence Communications added that Mr. Sukparu’s answers appeared to stem from an implementation standpoint rather than a technical one—an observation that reinforces the need for stronger foundational understanding within the ministry’s leadership team.
As Ghana continues to invest in its digital future, particularly in emerging fields like AI, blockchain, and nationwide digital literacy, scrutiny over key appointments in the communications sector is expected to intensify.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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