THE policy of wealthy businessmen being given ministerial portfolios in Egypt should be carefully and sincerely re-examined. Pressure appears to be mounting on the ruling National Democratic Party and its Government to do just this, in order to dispel suspicions that several businessmen, ministers in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, have been dividing their loyalties between their private businesses and their constitutional responsibilities and commitments. The latest minister-cum-businessman to come under suspicion is Minister of Housing, Utilities and New Urban Communities Ahmed el-Maghrabi. Together with his cousin, ex-Minister of Transport Mohamed Lotfi Mansour, el-Maghrabi was suspected of selling off the Amoun Island Hotel in Upper Egypt's Aswan very cheaply. An angry nation relaxed when President Hosni Mubarak cancelled the dubious sale of the hotel and ordered a new tender, so that the property and its surrounding land be sold to the highest bidder(s). Although local newspapers deny that Mansour and his cousin were guilty of any impropriety in the sale of the hotel, the public aren't entirely convinced, while the opposition hasn't relented in its stinging criticism of Nazif and senior officials in the ruling party. Other governmental officials have apparently devoted more of their time and energy to their private businesses than their ministerial responsibilities. To clear the names of these ministers and to deepen their integrity and transparency in public office, as well as silencing the rumourmongers, their appointment to their ministerial offices should be thoroughly reexamined.
