With the swearing-in of the last batch of ministerial nominees on Friday, President Akufo-Addo is set to announce the names of deputy ministers this week.
Even though the president has a tight schedule this week with the delivery of his maiden State of the Nation Address (SoNA) tomorrow, Tuesday, February 21, to parliament among other engagements – barring any last-minute hitches – the names of the deputy ministers will drop.
Pressure is said to be mounting on the president with lobbyists reportedly struggling to catch his attention.
However, President Akufo-Addo is said to be consulting the substantive ministers before announcing deputies in order to have harmonious working relationship.
According to presidency sources, most of the deputy ministers might be coming from parliament, including the youngest MP, Francisca Oteng Mensah, who has reportedly been penciled to be one of them.
The Kwabre East MP, who was massively endorsed by her people during the December 7, 2016 parliamentary election, had a total of 71,757 votes, representing 83.03% – the highest in the history of elections in the country.
Also on the list is the MP for Cape Coast North, Barbara Asher Ayisi, who is reportedly tipped for deputy minister in-charge of tertiary education.
Her counterpart from Prestea-Huni Valley, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, is also going to be on the list of deputy ministers.
Godfried Yeboah Dame of Akufo-Addo and Prempeh Chambers is partnering Gloria Akuffo as a deputy Attorney General.
Mr Dame was the face of the NPP in court, having handled most of the party’s legal issues, including the Afoko and Sammy Crabbe cases.
Joy FM’s onetime morning show host and now MP for Ofoase Ayirebi in the Eastern Region, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, and Perry Okudzeto, NPP deputy director of communications, are heading to the Information Ministry to support Mustapha Hamid, just as Kobby Okyere Darko-Mensah, MP for Takoradi and Mohammed Amin Anta of ACEP, would be providing support for Boakye Agyarko as deputy ministers for the Energy Ministry.
Former deputy Youth Organiser of the ruling NPP and now MP for Lawra, Anthony Karbo, is heading to Roads and Highway Ministry as deputy to Kwasi Amoako-Atta with Kwaku Kwarteng, MP for Obuasi West, going to support Ken Ofori-Atta as deputy minister of finance.
Osei Bonsu Amoah, MP for Akuapem South and former deputy sports minister, is tipped for either the interior ministry to assist Ambrose Dery, MP for Nandom or find himself at the local government and rural development ministry to support Hajia Alima Mahama, MP for Nalerigu in the Northern Region.
Abraham Dwuma Odoom, former deputy minister for health and MP for Twifo Atti Mokwa in the Central Region, is going to the Ministry Of Food & Agriculture as one of the deputies to Dr Afriyie Akoto, while Ledzokuku MP, Dr Okoe Boye, may go to the health ministry to join Dormaa Central MP, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu as his deputy. Sports administrator Vincent Sowah Odotei, might be joining Isaac Asiamah, MP for Atwima Mponua, at the youth and sports ministry.
The deputy for the communications ministry where Ursula Owusu-Ekuful is the minister, is between George Neenyi Andah and Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie of Alliance for Accountable Government (AFAG) fame.
Dr Afriyie, a medical doctor with specialty in health economy, holds a Masters degree in Economic Policy Management from the University of Ghana. He also studied at the Health Economic Research Centre at the University of Oxford and has led several advocacy programmes in telecommunication policies.
The MP for Ekumfi, Ato Cudjoe and that of Gomoa East, Kojo Asemanyi, are tipped for deputy fisheries minister, while Cynthia Morrison, MP for Agona West or Gifty Twum-Ampofo, MP for Abuakwa North, may partner Otiko Afisa Djaba at the Gender, Children &Social Protection Ministry.
Charles Owiredu, NPP director for international affairs, may partner Shirley Ayorkor Botchway at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Source: Daily Guide
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I thought NPP said they have the qualified people. Now you are nominating pig farmers and students who have not even finished school as ministers.
Kwaku Yeboah, let us not be blinded by ethnic sentiments to label people. Saratu Atta's mother is as Ghanaian of not more Ghanaian than your mother may be. Her name is Ashia from OSU who through her diligence has over a period of 50 years trained, employed and fed hundreds of Ghanaians through her Ashia Fabrics business. Saratu's father Alhaji Adamu Atta though Nigerian, attended Achimota school as a child, later on becoming Zaria State governor in Nigeria. Saratu herself was born a Ghanaian raised a Ghanaian and is a Ghanaian. That is what matters most.She is competent and so don't try ethnic picking and pointing. Its destroying Africa.
Nyiraba, I love your analysis even though i don't agree with everything you wrote. Certainly, our new national leadership must carefully nominate people from all regions of the country so that no group is left out. I never trusted Gabby Asare Ochere Darko either and I hope he is not an advisor to our President. As for Koliko calling our President a dwarf, evil and satanic, I leave God to judge you.
Nyhiraba and Koliliko, I suspect all of your analysis are based on wicked and treacherous tribal sentiments, the greatest cancer that can never be cured but at best managed by any government. But kudos to Nana. Your foresight will definitely be rewarded and this move shows your experience in politics. Jah Guidance Everytyme.
I like the appointments of Charles Owiredu and Perry Okudzeto. Fantastic appointments!!!
NANA,God be with you and your vice.Dr.NPP and all ghanaians support you in allllll.
Ghanaians let all support HE.Nana Addo Danquah Akufo the chosen one to run ghana and be the first or with the first.
Nana is eevil and ssatanic .I told those my Volta brothers who are in the npp to wait and see as their doing very uuseless job.by the time the azizah (dwarf)finished appointing names like osei,owusu,acheampong,etc there would be nothing left for them ,
I see.. I trust we do not bloat these ministries since you had promised to reduce the number of ministers.. anyway your former sister in law.. sister to your ex Nigerian wife is your Executive Assistant Saratu Atta at the Presidency. A Naija woman hmmmm... Ghana has to move forward Oga.. Running a country is very different from Campaigning... please ask Don Trump
Mr president well-done the voice of LA is heard I hope sooner our m c e will be nominated then LA together with our NII LA and his subjects will move LA forward Mr president thank you