Parliament has approved the ministerial nominees submitted by President Akufo-Addo.
During a debate on Friday, May 17, to consider the nominees, the Minority staged a walkout, declaring they would not participate in the process.
Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson stated that the caucus does not support the approval of the nominees.
“Mr Speaker, the Minority does not support the nominations of these ministers, because of what the country has gone through and continues to go through, including economic crisis, food insecurity, “dumsor”, and reckless borrowing.
“Businesses are struggling. While the government has asked Ghanaians to tighten their belts, the government has loosened its belts.
“Piling up ministers and deputies does not signal to the Ghanaians that the President understands the seriousness of the mess created,” he said.
Subsequently, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin suspended the sitting for five minutes to allow tempers to cool.
However, when the House resumed, only the Majority was present, and Mr. Bagbin called for a voice vote. The Majority then voted in favor of approving the ministerial nominees.
Full List of Ministerial and Deputy Ministerial Nominees:
In his first major ministerial reshuffle since 2017, President Akufo-Addo designated:
- Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye as Minister for Health
- Ophelia Mensah Hayford as Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
- Ms. Fatimatu Abubakar as Minister for Information
- Dakoa Newman as Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection
- Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah as Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development
- Lydia Seyram Alhassan as Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources
- Andrew Egyapa Mercer as Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture
- Titus Glover as Minister for Greater Accra Region
- Daniel Machator as Minister for Oti Region
The deputy ministerial nominees are:
- Sylvester Tetteh, MP for Information
- Vincent Ekow Assafuah for Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development
- Charles Acheampong for Communications and Digitalisation
- Adelaide Ntim, MP and Alexander Akwasi Acquah for Health
- Dr. Prince Hamidu Armah for Works and Housing
- Akwasi Konadu for Lands and Natural Resources
- Musah Abdul Aziz Ayaba for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development
- John Kobina Sanie and Collins Adomako Mensah for Energy
- Kingsley Nyarko for Education
- Festus Awuah Kwofie for Employment and Labour Relations
- Benjamin Sekyere Yeboah for Gender, Children, and Social Protection