President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has designated the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, and Member of Parliament for Damongo Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, to have Cabinet oversight responsibility over the Energy Ministry.
This follows the resignation of the Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, who has been named running mate to the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Opoku-Prempeh was outdoored as the running mate to the NPP’s flag bearer at a durbar in Kumasi following his unveiling.
A statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr. Eugene Arhin, Thursday July 11, 2024, said the President has accepted the resignation of Dr. Opoku-Prempeh as Energy Minister with effect from 18th July, 2024.
The statement, also, said the President has asked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinpor, MP, to have Cabinet oversight responsibility over the Ministry of Energy, while the Minister of State designate for the Ministry of Energy, Herbert Krapah, will be responsible for the day to day administration of the Ministry.
Mr. Jinapor’s oversight responsibility over the Ministry will be in addition to his substantive role as the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources.
This is the third time the President has given Mr. Jinapor additional responsibilities over other Ministries. It will be recalled that following the resignation of the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, the President on January 13, 2023, appointed Mr. Jinapor as the caretaker Minister for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, a position he held for three (3) months until K.T. Hammond was sworn in as substantive Minister in April, 2023.
Also, following the Ministerial reshuffle in February this year, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister was again designated caretaker Minister for the Ministry of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation (MESTI), pending the approval of Parliament of the then Minister-designate, Ophelia Mensah Hayford.
Source:onuaonline.com