The Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Bagbin on Friday announced names of ministerial nominees as appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo for the formation of the next New Patriotic Party government.
The list has thirty regular ministers and sixteen regional ministers. Nineteen regular ministers have maintained their portfolios in the President’s second term according to the list.
In a communication to the Rt. Hon. Speaker, President Nana Akufo-Addo said he was hopeful that Parliament will see to the prompt approval of the nominees, so that they can assist him in the delivery of his mandate for his second term in office.
Among the retained Ministers are Albert Kan Dapaah for the National Security Ministry, Ken Ofori-Atta for Finance and Alan Kyerematen for Trade and Industry.
The rest are: Dominic Nitiwul – Defence, Ambrose Dery – Interior, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey – Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu – Parliamentary Affairs, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful – Communications and Digitalisation, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto – Food and Agriculture, Kwaku Agyemang Manu – Health, Kwasi Amoako-Atta – Roads and Highways, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah – Transport, Cecilia Abena Dapaah – Sanitation and Water Resources, Ignatius Baffuor Awuah – Employment and Labour Relations and Kojo Oppong Nkrumah – Information.
Four Regional Ministers have also retained their positions while some Ministers in the previous government have also changed portfolios.
The former Minister of State responsible for Procurement, Sarah Adwoa Safo, will now head the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; the former Education Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh will now head the Energy Ministry and the former Special Initiatives Minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson, MP now heads the Fisheries Ministry.
Some of the former Ministers left without portfolios in the new government are Kofi Dzamesi of the Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Dr. Frimpong Boateng of the Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Samuel Atta Akyea of Works and Housing and Isaac Asiamah of the Sports Ministry.
A former deputy Justice Minister, Godfred Dame has been elevated to the Justice Minister. The Deputy Chief of Staff and Member of Parliament for the Bantam Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Francis Asenso Boakye, has been nominated to head the Works and Housing ministry.
The Member of Parliament for Tano North in the Ahafo Region and former deputy minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Freda Prempeh, has been nominated for Minister of State for Works and Housing.
A former Deputy Minister for Energy, Joseph Cudjoe, has been nominated for the Minister of Public Enterprises.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker has referred the nominees to the Appointments Committee for consideration and report.
By Jeorge Wilson Kingson || ghananewsonline.com.gh