President John Mahama has urged Parliament to expedite the vetting of newly nominated deputy ministers to enable them to offer assistance to their substantive ministers in executing government business.
He announced that four more deputy ministers will be nominated in the coming days to complete the full complement of his promised 60 ministers.
“So far, we have sworn in a total of 42 ministers. I have nominated 13 more who are yet to be vetted. I expect Parliament to expedite the vetting of the 13 nominees to enable them to join their ministers. In the coming days, I will nominate four more to make up the sixty,” he said on February 7.
Among the deputy minister appointees are; Samson Ahi, nominated as Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry. Clement Abas Apaak has been named Deputy Minister for Education, while Gizella Tettey-Agbotui has been selected for the Ministry of Works, Housing, and Water Resources.
Other notable nominees in the first batch include Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini for the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Justice Srem-Sai for the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, and Rita Naa Odoley Sowah for the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs.
Additionally, actor-turned-politician John Kofi Setor Dumelo has been nominated as Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture.
President Mahama made the call on Parliament when he swore 17 ministers into office at the Jubilee House in Accra.
The newly sworn-in appointees are made up of substantive ministers, ministers of state and regional ministers.
The sector ministers sworn in were; Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah-Akandoh, Sam George, Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, Minister for Environment and Science, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Abklakwa, Transport Minister, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, Minister of State-in-charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Labour Minister, Rashid Pelpuo and Minister of State-in-charge of Climate Change and Sustainability, Issifu Seidu.
The Regional Ministers were; Ahafo Regional Minister, Charity Gardiner, Savannah Regional Minister, Salifu Bi-Awuribe, Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, Western-North Regional Minister, Wilbert Petty Brentum, Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing.
President Mahama charged them to be modest in their expenditure.
“The hallmark of this government will be modesty. I expect the best from all of you. You must dig deep into your resources to meet the expectations of Ghanaians,” he stressed.
President Mahama said any travel by his appointees must be cleared by the Chief of Staff.
“I have asked the Chief of Staff to ban all non-essential travel. Any travel must be cleared with the Chief of Staff. Such trips, if approved, must be done in modesty, no first class,” he declared.