Four new faces of Pres. Akufo-Addo’s second-term gov’t
President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government is likely to be filled with many surprise appointments at key ministries.
Reliable information reaching theghanareport.com reveals a switch to several fresh faces in the new-look Akufo-Addo second-term administration.
Government sources have revealed that Farouk Aliu Mahama, a son of the late Vice President Aliu Mahama, is expected to be appointed Deputy Minister of Trade.
Farouk is a first-term MP who won the Yendi seat in the 2020 polls.
Another appointment that could set eyes rolling is the Deputy Minister of Transport portfolio likely to be given to Alhassan Tampuli, a former CEO for the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
Mr Tampuli emerged victorious in the parliamentary elections in Gushegu.
Two lieutenants of Mr Akufo-Addo, who were deputy Chiefs of Staff, have also been appointed.
Francis Asenso-Boakye of Bantama could take the Ministry of Works & Housing whiles Samuel Abu Jinapor heads the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
The two were accused of corruption by Musician Kwame A Plus who was a sympathiser of the NPP.
A Plus accused them of influencing the termination of an on-site revenue-collection contract by Stanbic Bank and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in favour of UniBank.
They were alleged to have forced the then CEO of the hospital, Dr Felix Anyah, to divert the contract to the local bank after Stanbic emerged victorious in competitive bidding.
They were, however, cleared by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
Youth and Sports Minister Isaac Kwame Asiamah seems to have been shown the exit with Mustapha Ussif, a former Director of the National Service Scheme set to take over.
Mr Ussif was the winner of the parliamentary election for Yagaba / Kubori.
Former Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has been elevated to substantive minister with Alfred Obeng Boateng as his deputy.
Additionally, former Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has been elevated to replace his boss, Gloria Akuffo.
With COVID-19 still lingering with a spike in cases shortly into the new year, the government has settled on Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare as Health Minister.
He is expected to replace Dormaa West MP, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, a Chartered Management Accountant.
President Akufo-Addo is faced with a parliament led by the opposition after a hard-fought win in the 2020 elections.
Many NPP seats have fallen into the opposition’s hands with parliament split equally to add salt to wound.
New NPP MPs also snatched some seats despite attempts to protect some legislators.
With the President required by the constitution to appoint a majority of ministers from parliament, he seems limited in his choices.
He won the 2020 elections with 6, 730, 587 (51.302%) as opposed to former President Mahama’s 6, 213, 182 (47.359%)