
17 More ministers nominated - Cabinet Secretary 9 Presidential staffers also named
President John Dramani Mahama has submitted the tallest list of ministerial nominees to Parliament for approval, taking the number of ministers designate so far to 42 in fulfilment of his promise to nominate all Cabinet Ministers for parliamentary approval within the first 14 days and form his government in the shortest possible time.
The President also appointed a Secretary to Cabinet and nine Presidential Staffers, to bolster governance and enhance operational efficiency.
The latest list of ministerial nominees, made up of 14 ministers of state and three regional ministers, has been presented to Parliament in accordance with Article 78 of the 1992 Constitution.
A statement issued by the acting Spokesperson to the President, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, named a former Minister of Communication, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, as the Minister designate for Defence; the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, Samuel Nartey George, as Minister designate for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations; and a former Energy Minister and MP for Ellembelle in the Western Region, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, as Minister designate for Lands and Natural Resources.
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The President also named the MP for Buem in the Oti Region, Kofi Iddie Adams, as Minister designate for Sports and Recreation; Wa Central MP in the Upper West Region, Abdul-Rashid H. Pelpuo, as Minister designate for Labour, Jobs and Employment; Juaboso MP in the Western North Region, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, as Minister designate for Health; and Tamale Central MP in the Northern Region, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, as Minister designate for Environment, Science and Technology.
More nominees
Also making the list of ministerial nominees are the MP for Saboba in the Northern Region, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, as Minister designate for Transport; Asawase MP in the Ashanti Region, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, as Minister designate for the Interior; North Tongu MP in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, as Minister designate for Foreign Affairs, and a former Deputy Minister of Defence, Adjel Kenneth Gilbert, as Minister designate for Works, Housing and Water Resources.
The others on the list of Ministers of State designate are MP for Nkoranza South in the Bono East Region, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, for Special Initiatives; MP for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese in the Central Region, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, for Government Communications; and MP for Nalerigu-Gambaga in the North East Region, Issifu Seidu, for Climate Change and Sustainability.
For the Regional Ministers, the nominees are Puozuing Charles Lwanga for Upper West; Joseph Addae Akwaboa, for Bono, and Francis Owusu Antwi, for Bono East.
Context
In line with Article 78 of the 1992 Constitution, President Mahama transmitted the names of the first three ministerial nominees to the Speaker of Parliament for approval by the House.
Parliament yesterday approved the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson; John Abdulai Jinapor, Energy, and Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
The Appointments Committee of Parliament is currently vetting the other ministerial nominees who would help the President deliver on his mandate to Ghanaians.
Office of the President
In a related development, President Mahama made key appointments to the Office of the President.
The list of appointees to the Office of the President, which was announced in the early hours of yesterday, had persons from diverse backgrounds and expertise, ranging from law, economy, and security to governance.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu, in a statement, named the President’s appointees as former Deputy Minister of Transport, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, as the Presidential Advisor and Special Aide to the President. The lawyer is expected to play a critical role in providing strategic counsel and direct support to the President.
A former presidential staffer under the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of 2012-2016, Stanislav Xoese Dogbe, has also been named as the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) while a former Minister for Children, Gender and Social Protection and lawyer, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration).
Also, a former Minister of Finance, Seth Emmanuel Terkper, has been appointed Presidential Advisor on the Economy, and is expected to be an anchor person on the economy by providing sound economic management in the government’s priorities.
A demographer and former Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development at the University of Ghana, Professor Francis Dodoo has been named Presidential Advisor for the National Anti-Corruption Programme as part of the commitment to tackle corruption.
Another key personality who has been appointed by the President is a former National Security Coordinator, Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, who has been designated as Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahelian States, a position reflecting Ghana’s commitment to regional collaboration and stability.
Other personalities at the Office of the President are communications specialist, Nana Yaa Jantuah, and lawyer Beatrice Annangfio, who have been appointed Presidential Staffers.
Media personality, Shamima Muslim, will take up the role of Deputy Presidential Spokesperson while Ghana’s former Education Minister and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Prof. Kwaku Danso-Boafo, takes up the position of Secretary to Cabinet.