The Office of the President has formally informed the Speaker of Parliament of its decision to retain Mr. Kofi Totobi Quakyi , the former Information Minister , as a Minister of State.
Although not formally assigned any portfolio , it is believed his retention will pave the way for him to act for the Minister of Communications , Mr. Spio- Garbah, who is said to be winding up his affairs as Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States . Mr. Totobi Quakyi’s formal retention will also end the confusion over recent description as out-going Minister of Information, a position which ceased to exist with the creation of the new Ministry of Communications.
The President is also reported to be bringing back Mr. Fred Ohene -Kena from his diplomatic post as Ghana’s Ambassador in Prague , to take over the Ministry of Mines and Energy . Mr. Ohene – Kena , an engineer, was PNDC Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources in the Government of PNDC before taking up the diplomatic appointment. Along with the retention of Mr. Totobi- Quakyi and the nomination the new minister of mines and Energy, our sources also disclosed the nomination of six new Deputy Ministers .
Prominent among the nominees are Professor Patrick Addy of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology who is slated for the Ministry of the Youth and Sports , Mr. Lee Ocran (Environment, Science and Technology), and Nana Pady Acheampong(Ministry of Health).
The others are : Mr. Bede Zeidu (Upper West), Mr. John Akutey (Eastern Region) and Mr. Amos Buartey (Greater Accra Region) . The President is also reported to have notified the speaker of the formal withdrawal of the nominations of three persons for appointment as Deputy Ministers. They are Mr. J.E. Ackah, Mr. Colin Agyarko-Nti (Environment, Science and Technology) and Mr. Abraham Gyesie (youth and Sports)
The latest nominations , expected to go before Parliament when it reconvenes, almost complete the line-up of the cabinet and other ministerial appointments . It leaves only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs without a substantive minister. Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi, Minister of Local Government is currently doubling up as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The nomination of the new Minister of Mines and Energy is expected to ease the burden on Finance Minister, Mr. Kwame Peprah, who has continued to oversee the Ministry he ran for four years before assuming the tough finance portfolio.
