Has John Dumelo Joined The Presidency's Gravy Train Too?

I listened to the host of Peace FM's entertainment programme, "Entertainment Review," Kwesi Aboagye, interviewing the actor John Dumelo, earlier this afternoon, about his appointment as a tourism ambassador, by the minister for tourism and the creative arts.

It is instructive that John Dumelo made the point that he has the largest Facebook following in Ghana - with a million followers apparently.

Was it a subtle way to justify his appointment, perhaps, one wonders? If so, why does he need to justify what he says he is not being paid for?

He also casually  mentioned a documentary film about tourism that he is shooting -  at which point this old fogey's big ears automatically pricked up.

What John Dumelo ought to do to reassure his many Ghanaian Facebook followers, when he says he isn't being paid for his role as a tourism ambassador, is to issue a statement to the general public, categorically stating that no state-owned entity, is sponsoring his ambassadorial role in any shape or form.

On the other hand, if it is the case that he indeed has some form of sponsorship from some state-owned entities, for his role as a tourism ambassador, then he should tell Ghanaians  precisely what those sponsorship "packages" consist of, and what the names of those particular state-owned entities are.

He must be transparent about that to avoid government critics condemning his appointment as a cover for juicy sponsorship deals from state-owned entities, to share with his cronies at the presidency.

Finally, does his ambassadorial role enable him to get sponsors to pick up some of  his expenses - such as hotel bills and fuel allowances - when he visits tourism attractions around the country? Ditto return air tickets to destinations overseas and per diems?

If he is to avoid rumours that his appointment was secured for him, by the create-loot-and-share genuises at the presidency, so they could use him to secure juicy "sponsorship" packages from sundry state-owned entities, which they could share with him - and also prepare the ground for a positive vetting-narrative, when he is appointment a deputy minister of tourism and the creative arts, should the National Democratic Congress be returned to power again after the November presidential election - then he must issue an unequivocal statement denying that, swiftly.

That will reassure his fans that he has not joined the presidency's gravy train's first class carriage too, to milk Mother Ghana dry.

If everything about his appointment  is lily white and above board, then one wishes him well in his new role.