Prez Akufo-Addo Names First 13 Ministers…Next Batch On Thursday

President Nana Akufo-Addo on Tuesday revealed the first batch Ministers of State to run affairs since his inauguration and swearing-in as president; thus putting to bed all the social media rumours of the make-up of his administration.

At a press conference in the Flagstaff House, the President said he will only put out 13 names today, and would complete the process by announcing the second and third batches in the course of the week.

Top on the list is Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo as a Senior Minister.

Describing him as the most sucessful Finance minister in Ghana, the president recounted Mr Osafo Maafo’s vast experience in the erstwhile Kufuor administration. He tasked the Senior Minister to help turn the economy around.

“He took us into HIPC and got us out of HIPC“, he lavished praise on Osafo Marfo.

Next on the list are Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah for National Security, “Baby-face” Dominic Nitiwul for Defence, Mr Alan Kyerematen for Trade and Industry and Mr Ken Ofori Atta for Finance for Parliament’s consideration.

Explaining his choice of the founder of Databank as Finance Minister, the president pointed out that “we need somebody of finance who has the range, who has the capacity and insight to move mortal economies“.

Others names in the ministerial list include Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto for Agriculture; MP for Dormaa Central and the chairman of the Public Account Committee in the last Parliament, Dr Kwaku Agyeman Manu for Health and Mr Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko for Energy.

On why he settled on the 2012 NPP Campaign Manager and former Bank of New York Governor as his pick for Energy Minister, President Akufo-Addo he wants somebody who will make ‘dumsor’, ‘a thing permanently of the past‘.

The President then named Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Napo), who he says has ‘very independent views‘ but is ‘very familiar with areas like health and education‘ as the Education Minister. He will be in charge of making the NPP’s electoral promise of free Senior High School education a reality.

‘People would have thought that as a doctor he should go to Health. But that is not my view,‘ Nana Addo said.

Former Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Nandom, Ambrose Dery was named as the Interior Minister. According to the president, he wants a lawyer with an understanding of security and who can balance the needs of the ministry and the demands of the public.

‘I believe he is just the right man to provide the leadership of the interior ministry‘, he added.

Audio Attachment:Listen to President Nana Akufo-Addo


	Gloria Akuffo and Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey

The President also named Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey for Foreign Affairs, Hajia Alima Mahama for Local Government and Rural Development and his one-time deputy when he was at the Attorney-General’s Department under the Kufuor government, Gloria Akufo as Attorney General.

‘She has very strong views, very ethical and she was the former deputy Attorney-General‘, Akufo-Addo said of the nominee.