All the superlatives for the president’s men

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was at his praise-singing best Thursday as he presented his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) before Parliament, tagging one appointee after another with the best of superlatives.

In a SONA described by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu as “state of promises’, the President shoots off with the sweetest of accolades for his Vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who emerges as “the strong, brilliant economist” under whose “stellar leadership” the Economic Management Team has risen to the challenge of building a stronger economy with the hard work beginning to show positive results.

The President also found his Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Ken Ofori-Atta as “a national asset” for the solid “macroeconomic fundamentals” as all critical indices point “in the right direction,” while Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, is a “champion of Ghanaian farmers”.

“Charismatic” is the Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, just as Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu is an “able chartered accountant” and Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu “indefatigable”.

Mustapha Hamid, Information Minister goes for “articulate” while Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, is “forceful”.

Yaw Osafo Maafo is “the respected” Senior Minister; “Able” is Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Gloria Akuffo; “Skillful and experienced” is Dan Botchwey - Minister for Regional Reorganization and Development; and Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, takes “Resourceful”. 

Cecilia Abena Dapaah – Minister for Aviation is “dynamic”; “Creative” and “intrepid” is Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister for Communication.

“Globally acclaimed” goes for Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng; “Tireless” is Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko; “Formidable” is Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Derry; and “Energetic” Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul.

Even the yet to be vetted nominee for the post of Special Prosecutor, Martin ABK Amidu, who faces Parliament's Appointments Committee next week, received his own accolades - "a person of proven professional ability, with an established record of integrity and independence of character".