President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has told the new ministers to promptly file their asset declaration.
The president reminded the appointees that they have been called to provide public service and not to appropriate personal gains.
Mr Akufo-Addo said these at the Jubilee House while swearing in the new ministers on Monday, May 20.
He said “Your contribution will not only be to the success of my government but also equally important to the success of our party, the NPP, its excellent presidential candidate, Vice President Dr Mahamdu Bawumia, and its parliamentary candidates in the 2024 December elections. To this end, the quality of integrity which will permeate your work in these last few months is extremely important
“We are called to these public appointments to provide public service not to appropriate personal gain. Do not in this regard fail to file your asset declaration promptly and remain above reproach in your public dealings, your conduct, my conduct, our collective conduct in the executive will determine to a large extent the fate and fortunes of our party in the NPP in this and succeeding decades.”
President Akufo-Addo expressed confidence in the new ministers he appointed despite the fact that they have only seven months to serve in the administration which expires on January 7, 2025.
The president stated that anyone desiring to prove a point can do so even in a short period of time hence the new appointees can deliver within that short period.
“You have joined the government at the last lap of its mandate, with seven months to go but I am confident that there is enough time for you to make a difference and significant contribution, Indeed anyone who has something to prove can make a point within a short period and I am sure you various competencies, experiences, and talents make this distinctly possible,” he said.
President however expressed surprise that the Minority walkout during the consideration and approval of the new ministers.
He described the action of the Minority as a ‘pity’.
“It was a pity that at the last moment, the Minority which has participated in all the prior processes found it necessary to walk out of parliament at the formal approval stage. we thank God that the walkout was not fatal to the vote of approval,” he said.
The Minority in Parliament on Friday, May 17 staged a boycott of the approval of the new ministers of President Akufo-Addo.
The minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson in his submission on the floor questioned how the approval of the ministerial nominees was classified as an urgent matter.
“May I ask, how is the approval of the President’s nominees for ministerial positions an urgent matter, when this Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government already has a large number of ministers and deputy ministers?” He asked.
While walking out of the chamber, some of the opposition lawmakers were heard saying “Ghanaians are suffering.”
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson told the Majority side that “If you don’t care, we care.”
The ministerial nominees are Health Hon. Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye; Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ophelia Mensah Hayford; Information Ms. Fatimatu Abubakar, Gender; Children and Social Protection Dakoa Newman; Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah; Sanitation and Water Resources Hon. Lydia Seyram Alhassan; Tourism, Arts and Culture Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer, MP, Greater Accra Region Hon. Titus Glover, Oti Region Mr. Daniel Machator.
The deputy ministerial nominees are for Information Sylvester Tetteh, MP; Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Vincent Ekow Assafuah;
Communications and Digitilisation Hon. Charles Acheampong; Health Adelaide Ntim, MP Alexander Akwasi Acquah; Works and Housing Hon. Dr. Prince Hamidu Armah;
Lands and Natural Resources, Akwasi Konadu; Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Hon. Musah Abdul Aziz Ayaba; Energy John Kobina Sanie, Collins Adomako Mensah;
Education Kingsley Nyarko; Employment and Labour Relations Hon. Festus Awuah Kwofie;
Gender, Children and Social Protection Hon. Benjamin Sekyere Yeboah.”
