The Akufo-Addo ministerial reshuffle has come at a late stage, resembling much ado about nothing. The constitutional act empowering the president to nominate ministers for parliamentary approval fails to address the extensive challenges the New Patriotic Party government has generated over the past seven years.
These sentiments were expressed by the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Ibrahim Murtal Mohamed, during an appearance on the Adekyee Mu Nesm morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM. Hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra, Mohamed criticized the reshuffle, highlighting the tight timeline for vetting and committee work on the new ministerial nominees, estimating it to be barely two months.
According to Mohamed, some of the nominees for ministerial roles are new, requiring additional time to understand their responsibilities and seamlessly transition into their new portfolios. He asserted that these appointments are politically driven, suggesting they may be a strategic move to allow the Vice President to select his favorites to support his presidential campaign.
Looking ahead, Hon. Murtala Mohamed questioned the efficacy of these appointments, considering the substantial amount of work and unfinished projects that the government has been unable to complete over the past seven years. He skeptically pondered what the new appointees could contribute to addressing the economic challenges confronting the country.
In another development, the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced his first ministerial reshuffle since assuming office in January 2017.
Calls for a reshuffle had been lingering over the years.
New Ministerial and Deputy Ministerial Appointments
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been axed. He has been replaced with Mohammed Amin Adam, who, until his reassignment, was the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, has also been moved to head the Interior Ministry, replacing Ambrose Dery.
The Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Bernard Okoe Boye, has also been named as the Minister-designate for Health.
In all, 13 current ministers of state, including 13 deputy ministers and two regional ministers, have been affected by the reshuffle.
Following the reorganization of the Government, President Akufo-Addo submitted to Parliament, for prior approval, through the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the names of the following persons for appointment as Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State, in accordance with articles 78, 79, and 256, respectively, of the Constitution.
The Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro, Sylvester Tetteh, has been nominated as Deputy Information Minister-designate, alongside Charles Acheampong and Vincent Ekow Assafuah, who will deputize the Ministries of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, and Communications and Digitalization, respectively.
Below is the full list of the ministers and deputies of state designate:
