Justify your inclusion - Prez Akufo-Addo tells deputy ministers
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday swore in the final batch of 50 deputy ministers of state, with a call on them to justify their selection which had attracted a barrage of criticisms.
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He reminded them of the controversies surrounding their nomination, which was greeted with the use of unpalatable words, with some describing it as ‘obscene’ and ‘jobs for the boys’.
“These criticisms impose a clear obligation on you to justify your selection, especially when you know that many of your peers are in the house who have not been selected, even though they have similar claim of competence as yours,” he told the deputy ministers.
The President told them that their success would be a function of three things — loyalty to their ministers, integrity and hard work.
He stressed that loyalty to their ministers was fundamental to the success of their work and served notice that he would not countenance any acts of disloyalty or subversion of their ministers.
He added that he would take such acts as disloyalty to him personally and, by inference, disloyalty to the party and the state.
“Any deputy who thinks that the route of advancement lies in your ability to subvert or undermine your minister will be sadly mistaken. You will not benefit from that conduct in Akufo-Addo’s government,” he cautioned.
President Akufo-Addo, therefore, urged them to work with their ministers in all sincerity and transparency, saying that would guarantee their success and the collective success of the government.
Service with integrity
He said the quality of integrity that would permeate their work was key, for which reason they had to remember the solemn commitment that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had made collectively and individually to serve the Ghanaian people honestly and competently.
The President said the call to public appointment was for them to provide public service and not to advance personal gain. He, accordingly, directed that they should file their assets declaration within two weeks.
Sincere partnership
President Akufo-Addo expressed appreciation to Parliament for exercising its mandate of vetting and approving his appointees with commendable dispatch and transparency.
The deputy ministers sworn in were Kwaku Kwarteng, Charles Adu Boahen and Madam Abena Osei Asare for the Ministry of Finance; Owuraku Aidoo, Joseph Cudjoe and Dr Mohammed Amin Anta for the Ministry of Energy; Osei Bonsu Amoah, Collins Ntim and Kwasi Boateng Agyei, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
Those for the Ministry of Information are Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ama Dokuaa Asiamah Agyei and Perry Curtis Kwabla Okudzeto, while William Quaitoo, Dr Sagre Bambangi and George Oduro head for the Ministry of Agriculture.
Other deputy ministers
Those for the Ministry of Trade and Industry are Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah and Robert Ahomka-Lindsey, while Kwabena Owusu Aduomi and Anthony N-Yoh Puowele Karbo are for the Ministry of Roads and Highways, with Benito Owusu Bio and Barbara Oteng-Gyasi going to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
The Ministry of Works and Housing has Freda Prempeh and Eugene Antwi as deputies, while the Ministry of Education has Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum and Barbara Ayisi Acher as deputies.
Godfred Yeboah Dame and Joseph Dinkiok Kpemka are for the Office of Attorney-General and Minister of Justice; Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu and Tina Mensah are for Health; Kwaku Agyenim Boateng and Andy Appiah-Kubi are for Railways Development, while Mohammed Habib Tijani and Charles Owiredu are for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Remaining deputy ministers
The remaining deputy ministers are George Andah and Vincent Sowah Odotei, Communications; Patrick Boamah and Michael Yaw Gyato, Water Resources and Sanitation; Major Derrick Oduro, Defence, with Henry Quartey going to Interior.
The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation has Patricia Appiagyei as deputy; Martin Agyei-Mensah Korsah is for Regional Re-organisation and Development; Nii Kwartei Titus Glover is for Transport; Bright Wireko Brobbey, Employment and Social Welfare; Francis Kingsley Ato Cudjoe, Fisheries and Aquaculture; Kwabena O. Darko-Mensah is for Aviation, while Paul Essien is for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
The rest are Gifty Twum Ampofo, Gender, Children and Social Protection; Pius Enam Hadzide, Youth and Sports; Dr Ziblim Barri Iddi, Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture, and William Kwasi Sabi, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Some of the Deputy Ministers at the swearing in
President Akufo-Addo with the deputy ministers after the swearing-in ceremony. Pictures: SAMUEL TEI ADANO