John Picks 12 Ministers

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John Picks 12 Ministers

12 January 2012

PRESIDENT JOHN Dramani Mahama yesterday nominated 12 persons for appointment as ministers of state under his administration.

The president accordingly submitted the names of the nominees to Parliament in accordance with Article 78 of the Constitution for parliamentary vetting of the ministers-designate.

Speaker Edward Doe Adjaho who announced this on the floor of Parliament yesterday before the House adjourned for a recess, gave the names as follows: Seth Terkper, a former deputy minister for Finance and Economic Planning will now be the substantive minister, replacing his boss, Dr Kwabena Duffuor; while Awutu Senya West MP and former Minister for Trade and Industry, Hannah Serwaah Tetteh takes over as the Foreign Affairs Minister. She is replacing Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni who had reportedly refused the post of First Deputy Speaker of Parliament on his return to the House as the representative of the Kumbungu constituency.

Amenfi East MP, Akwasi Oppong- Fosu is taking over from Samuel Ofosu Ampofo as Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.

Mr Ofosu Ampofo, a defeated parliamentary candidate for Tema West, as a confidant of the President, will definitely get a shot at one of the ministries yet to be named.

Others are Anlo MP and outgoing Minister for youth and Sports, Clement Kofi Humado, who is taking over the Agriculture portfolio from Kwesi Ahwoi, one of the Ahwoi brothers; the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang is moving to the Ministry of Education to replace Lee Ocran. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang co-moderated the recent Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) presidential debate with Kojo Opong Nkrumah.

Former Energy Minister, Dr. Joseph Oteng Adjei is now being shifted to Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, replacing Sherry Hani Ayittey; and former deputy Energy Minister and Tamale Central MP, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini will now be the substantive minister for Lands and Natural Resources, replacing Mike Allen Hammah, who was defeated at Effutu.

The rest are former Upper West regional minister and MP for Sissala West, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani, now moving to the Ministry for Roads and Highways, replacing Joe Gidisu; Alhaji Collins Dauda, Asutifi South MP and former Transport Minister is also going to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing where E.T. Mensah held sway.

Former deputy youth and Sports Minister, Dr. Edward Omani Boamah, will now be a full minister for Communications, taking over from Haruna Iddrisu who might be the next Energy Minister.

The Bawku Central MP and former deputy minister for Education, Mahama Ayariga, is taking over from Fritz Baffour as the Minister for Information and gender activist Nana Oye Lithur will be in charge of newly designated Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, formerly known as Women and Children’s Affairs Ministry.

Sources said most of the old guards in the party might not return, as the president would want to bring in fresh limbs.

Speaker Adjaho has referred the ministerial nominees to the Appointments Committee of Parliament for consideration and report. The Appointments Committee is expected to sit very soon to vet the nominees for appointment.

By Awudu Mahama

Source: Daily Guide/Ghana