Ethiopian Trade Minister Abdurahman Sheikh Mohammed and Minister of State for Trade Ahmed Tussa were removed from their posts last week. The two ministers have been replaced just over a year after their appointment.
The ministers were relieved of their duties primarily due to increasing public discontent following the introduction and subsequent elimination of price caps early this year according to sources. The slow pace of the ministry in effecting the Growth and Transformation Plan was also cited as another reason for their replacement. The two ministers have been reassigned to other posts. The former Trade Minister Abdurahman has been appointed as the vice president of the Somali Regional State. Ahmed on the other hand is expected to lead the newly formed corporation of Ethiopian Maritime Transit Services, Ethiopian Shipping Lines and Dry Port Services Enterprise.It is to be remembered that the Price Caps introduced in January of this year and relinquished in June turned out to be highly controversial. There was some criticism of the price caps on a variety of commodity items enacted by the Ministry of Trade.
The cap was primarily criticized for being hasty and not well planned, which affected the governments ability to effect and enforce it.
Source: The Reporter
