Twenty-eight deputy ministers designate were on Tuesday unanimously approved en bloc by Parliament.
The Parliamentary Appointments Committee, chaired by Mr Freddy Blay, First Deputy Speaker, vetted the 28 deputy ministers.
During the debate for their approval, the Minority group in Parliament, back from a four -day boycott, lashed at the government for “allowing unapproved ministers to run ministries.”
Mr Kofi Attor, NDC-Ho Central, who led the assault, said, ” let everybody know that you are not a minister or deputy minister until Parliament approves of your nomination and subsequently sworn in by the President”.
He said,” I don’t know what we are here to do. After all they have already jumped into the various ministries and working. The Ministers did it and they called themselves the President’s representatives”.
The member said the action of the persons was a breach of the Constitution and should not be allowed to continue.
Mr Johnson Aseidu Nkestia, NDC-Wenchi West, called for the elevation of Papa Owusu Ankoma to full ministerial status to enable him function effectively in the absence of Mr J. H. Mensah, the substantive Minister of Government Business. Mr Mensah is the Majority Leader in the House.
Mr Abuga Pele, NDC-Paga/Chiana, scolded the President for creating a big government, “an accusation that prefaced his every campaign message during the presidential race.”
Mr Mensah dismissed the Minority’s accusation as baseless, saying, “we have not done anything illegal or unconstitutional”. The following are the deputy ministers:
Papa Owusu Ankoma, Government Business,
Mr Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, Local Government and Rural Development,
Mr John Setuni Achuliwor, Transport and Communications
Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Trade and Industry
Nana Akomea, Tourism
Mr Edward Osei-Kwaku, Presidential Affairs.
Mr Mustapha Ali Idris, Foreign Affairs.
Mr Yaw Barimah, Interior
Mrs Grace Coleman, Finance
Dr G. Adombila Agambila, Finance
Mr Edward Martey Akita, Defence
Ms Theresa Tagoe, Works and Housing
Mr Joseph Aggrey, Youth and Sports
Dr Mathew Kwaku Antwi, Food and Agriculture
Mr Clement L. N. Eledi, Lands, Forestry and Mines
Mr Rashid Bawa, Education
Dr Abdel-Majeed Haroun, Food and Agriculture
Ms Alima Mahama, Local Government and Rural Development
Mr Issah Ketekewu, Northern Region
Mr Yaw Adjei-Dufour, Brong Ahafo
Mr Gustav Jonathan Narh-Dometey, Eastern Region
Mr Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi, Volta Region
Mr Joe Donkor, Manpower Development and Employment
Mr Kobina Tahir Hammond, Energy.
Mrs Anna Nyamekye, Environment, Science and Technology
Mr Moses Dani Baah, Trade and Industry
Ms Gloria Afua Akuffo, Attorney – General and Minister of Justice.
Source: GhanaWeb
