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�As a President, I determine who stays on the pitch and who doesn�t� says President John Dramani Mahama. This was in response to a question asked by Dzifa Bampoh of JoyFM during President Mahama�s interaction with the press Tuesday to mark his one year in office. President Mahama was asked for clarity on the dismissal of Victoria Hammah, as Deputy Communications Minister. The former deputy communications minister was sacked after a leaked tape on which a voice purported to be that of hers was heard telling a friend that she will not quit politics until she makes at least US$1m. She also claimed Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister, Nana Oye Lithur, may have influenced the verdict of the election petition case, by which the Supreme Court affirmed the President�s victory in the 2012 elections. Grapevine reports say her dismissal was in connection with the leaked taped on which she was also believed to have made various allegations and comments which embarrassed government. Her dismissal further heightened speculation that her comments on the said tape were true. Asked by the journalist why the deputy minister was relieved of her position, President Mahama offered no official explanation and somewhat sought refuge in the proverbial 'appointing authority' maxim when he replied, �it is my obligation as a President� and "i have the power and the prerogative to determine who stays in my cabinet and who doesn�t". ��Like a coach, a time comes when you must take some decisions to move a player off the field and coaches have the privilege to do so without question and so as President I have the privilege to decide who serves in my government, who leaves at what time, and so the decision is mine and I�ve taken it and I take responsibility for it�, he said.