§ 28. Mr. A. Fenner Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Governor of the Gold Coast has appointed permanent secretaries to the various departments of the Gold Coast Administration prior to the forthcoming elections under the new Constitution.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsIn order to ensure a smooth transition, the central administrative machine in the Gold Coast is being reorganised into ministries in anticipation of the new Constitution, and it was considered desirable that the permanent secretaries should be available to take part in this process.
§ Mr. BrockwayIn view of the very important duties of these officials, would it not have been better to have left their appointment to the Government to be elected at the forthcoming election?
§ Mr. GriffithsI think it is very desirable that these officials should be there during the transitional period. I might add that the Government have decided to create six new posts of senior assistants to the Colonial Governor, and that these posts will he filled by Africans.