President Akufo-Addo announces first batch of ministers

GNA – President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Tuesday, announced the first batch of ministers and urged the Appointments Committee of Parliament to act expeditiously to approve them for his government to take off successfully President Akufo-Addo, named the 13 personalities at a media briefing at the Flag Staff House, in Accra, and extolled the virtues and competencies of the nominees.

Mr. Yaw Osafo Maafo, a former Minister of Finance as well as Education and Sports in the Kufuor Administration, has been nominated as Senior Minister.

The President praised him for his initiative to put the country under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and his success in redeeming it from that status.

Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, a co-founder of Data Bank and the Executive Chairman of the Bank from 1990 to 2012, is the Minister-designate for Finance, while Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, a Former Minister of Trade and Industry, is the Minister –designate for Trade and Industry.

Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Minister-designate for National Security, was a former Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. He is a chartered accountant and a Former Minister of the Interior in the Kufuor Administration.

Mr Boakye Agyarko, a banker and energy expert, has been nominated as the Minister of Energy.

Mr. Dominic Nitiwul, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bimbilla, and Former Deputy Minority Leader, of the Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, is the Minister-designate for Defence.

President Akufo-Addo described the young man as “an astute politician” who was very conversant with the security issues in the country.

Lawyer Ambrose Dery, MP for Nandom in the Upper West Region, is the Minister-designate for the Interior and he was commended by the President for being “very efficient” and urged him to protect and ensure the right of people in a democratic society.

Mr Dery served in the Kufuor Administration as a Deputy Attorney-General and Upper West Regional Minister.

Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, the MP for Anyaa-Sowutuom and Minister-designate for the Foreign Affairs, was also a former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs under the Kufuor Administration.

Ms Gloria Akuffo, was nominated as the Attorney General. She is an astute lawyer and a former Deputy Minister in that portfolio.

President Akufo-Addo described Ms Akuffo as “very disciplined and efficient in her output”, saying she was clear in her conviction in the distinct ethical values of the laws of Ghana.

President Akufo-Addo also nominated Hajia Alima Mahama as the Minister-designate for the Ministry of the Local Government and Rural Development.

Hajia Alima, an experienced lawyer, is also the Member of Parliament for Nareligu-Gambaga in the Northern Region.

She was the Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs and a Deputy Minister of Trade in the Kufuor Administration.

President Akufo-Addo, in announcing her nomination, stated that Ghana was at the cross roads of instituting structural reforms in the Local Government sector, where Chief Executives of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, would be elected by 2018.

Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, alias ‘NAPO’, the MP for Manhyia South, is the designated Minister for Education.

President Akufo-Addo stated that upon his approval, the medical doctor would have the responsibility of implementing the Free Senior High School Policy as captured in the New Patriotic Party’s manifesto.

Mr Kwaku Agyemang Manu, the Member of Parliament for Dormaa West in the Brong Ahafo Region, has been designated as the Minister of Health. He was a Former Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, also in the previous NPP Administration.

The President expressed his belief that the Minister-designate upon his approval, would achieve the arduous task of mobilising sustainable financial resources for the National Health Insurance Scheme and the restoration of the trainee nurses’ allowance.

Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the Minister-Designate for Agriculture, is a renowned agricultural economist, and MP for Kwadaso Constituency in the Ashanti Region, and a Former Minority spokesperson on Agriculture.

President Akufo-Addo said he would announce his next set of nominees on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

GNA