Parliament last Friday approved the nomination of four ministers of state and seven deputy ministers of state designate by consensus. The Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides shared the view that the nominees were generally knowledgeable and experienced to occupy their respective ministerial positions and unanimously approved their nomination.
The approval followed the presentation of the report of the committee, which recommended, by consensus, that the nominees be approved by the House because they had sufficiently satisfied the committee that they had the knowledge and experience to man the respective ministries.
The four ministers are Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo as Minister of State designate, Public Procurement; Mr Bryan Acheampong, Minister of State at the Office of the President; Professor Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State designate at the Ministry of Education (Tertiary Education), and Dr Gyiele Nurah, Minister of State designate at the Ministry of Agriculture.
The deputy ministers designate are Mr Henry Quartey, Interior; Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, Finance; Ms Abena Osei Asare, Finance; Mr Joseph Cudjoe, Energy; Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Energy, and Mr William Owuraku Aidoo, Energy.
In accordance with Article 256 (2) of the 1992 Constitution, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo communicated to Parliament the nomination of the ministers and deputy ministers designate.
Consequently, the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, referred the nomination of the deputy ministers to the committee for consideration and report pursuant to Order 172 Standing Orders of the House.
Committee’s report
Presenting its report, its Chairman, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, said the committee obtained confidential reports on the nominees from the Ghana Police Service and the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) as part of its background checks.
Tax status reports were also obtained from the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Mr Osei-Owusu said the nominees answered questions relating to their eligibility, issues pertaining to the offices to which they had been nominated and other issues of national concern.
He added that the committee had reached a consensus that all the nominees be approved.
The Minority Leader and Ranking Member on the committee, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, supported the motion for the nominees to be approved by consensus.
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