By Our Reporter
President Akufo-Addo has charged Deputy Ministers of his second term administration to justify their selection to service in their various ministerial portfolios by their works and to remain loyal to the leadership and direction of their substantive Ministers of State as required of them by the 1992 Constitution.
Addressing the newly sworn in Deputy Ministers at the Banquet Hall of the Jubilee House today the 25th of June 2020, after administering the Oaths of Office, Allegiance and Secrecy to them, President Akufo-Addo said the Deputy Ministers have to justify their selection because there many of their peers in Parliament who have not been selected even though they have similar claims of competence.
“We have launched the 100 billion cedis Ghana Cares Obaatampa project to respond to it (the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic), to revitalize and develop our economy. The objectives of the project demands that all of you gathered here bring your “A” game to the table to prosecute it,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“Your success in this endeavor will be a consequence of three things; first, it is the spirit of loyalty you exhibit to your Ministers. Article 79, clause 1 of the Constitution of the Republic provides that a Deputy Minister is appointed by the President in consultation with the Minister and with the prior approval of Parliament to assist the Minister in the performance of his or her functions,” President Akufo-Addo further stated.
“Your basic responsibility is thus, to assist your Minister in the performance of his or her functions. Loyalty to the Minister is a fundamental premise for the success of your work. I will not countenance any acts of disloyalty or subversion of your Minister, for I will take such acts as disloyalty to me personally and by inference, disloyalty to the state and party,” the President cautioned.
Integrity
In his speech, the President noted that the most critical thing that has to guide the Deputy Ministers as they go into public life, is their individual integrity and the collective integrity of the government as a whole. He urged the Deputy Ministers to be guided by the fact that they are providing public service and not to engage in private gain.
“You have to remember at all times, the solemn commitment we in the NPP have made collectively and individually, jointly and severally, to serve the Ghanaian people honestly and competently. We are called to these public appointments to provide public service not to promote our person gains,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“An opportunity is being offered you to serve your country in an elevated capacity. Seize the opportunity with humility but with determination and perform guided always by the Almighty God,” Akufo-Add added.
Response of Deputy Ministers:
In a response on behalf of her colleagues, the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Nana AmaDokuaAsiamah-Adjei, assured President Akufo-Addo that they will engage, consult and collaborate with all stakeholders in the governance structure in their bid to assist their Ministers to deliver the mandate bestowed on respective ministries.
“We are privileged and grateful to be given these valuable opportunities to serve the country in this capacity and we will give it our utmost best to justify these appointments,” Nana AmaDokuaAsiamah-Adjei said.
The Appointees:
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance sworn into office was Charles Adu-Bohene. The thirty-nine (39) Deputy Ministers who were sworn into office by the President are; for the Finance Ministry, AbenaOsei-Asare, MP; John AmpontuahKumah, MP; for Trade and Industry Ministry, Nana AmaDokuaAsiamah-Adjei, MP, Michael Okyere Baafi, MP and Mr. Herbert Krapa.
Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, MP; William OwurakuAidoo, MP and Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, MP, were appointed to the Ministry of Energy.
The Local Government, Decentralization & Rural Development Ministry had Augustine Collins Ntim, MP; Osei Bonsu Amoah, MP and Martin KwakuAdjei-Mensah Korsah appointed. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration had, Thomas Mbomba, MP, KwakuAmpratwum-Sarpong, MP. The Office of Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, had Alfred Tuah-Yeboah and Ms. Diana AsonabaDapaah appointed as its DeputyMinisters. The two Deputy Ministers for the Food and Agriculture Ministry are Yaw Frimpong Addo, MP and Mohammed HardiTufeiru, MP. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, MP and GiftyTwum-Ampofo, MP have been appointed to the Ministry of Education.
For the Ministry of Health, Tina GiftyNaaAyeley Mensah, MP and AlhajiMahamaAseiSeini, MP are it’s appointed Deputy Ministers. Benito Owusu-Bio, MP and George MirekuDuker, MP, are appointed to the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry. The Roads and Highways Ministry has Mavis Nkansah-Boadu, MP and Stephen PambiinJalulah, MP as its appointed Deputy Ministers. AlhassanTampuliSulemana, MP and Frederick Obeng Adom, MP, are appointed to the Ministry of Transport.
Defence Ministry and the Ministry of Interior have Kofi Amankwah-Manu, MP and NaanaEyiah, MP, respectively. AmaPomaaBoateng, MP, is appointed as Deputy Minister to the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization. AbdulaiAbanga, MP, is appointed to the Works and Housing Ministry whilst Moses Anim, MP, is appointed to Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development. Kwaku Asante-Boateng, MP is appointed as Deputy Minister to the Ministry of Railway Development.
The rest are; AmiduIssahakuChinnia, MP appointed to the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources; Mark Okraku-Mantey to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; LaribaZuweiraAbudu, MP who is appointed to the Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry; Bright Wireko-Brobbey, MP who takes appointment at the Employment and Labour Relations Ministry; Ms. FatimatuAbubakar, appointed to the Ministry of Information and Evans OpokuBobie, MP, appointed to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
