President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has taken a bold step to relieve some of his ministers who have served the nation for over six years.
The persistent call on the government to sack and reshuffle some of his ministers occupying key positions follows the alleged economic management after the COVID-19 pandemic, which led the country to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to recover.
A statement signed and released by the Director of Communications at the Office of the President, Eugene Arhin on February 14, 2024, indicates that while some ministers have been promoted, others have been reshuffled and new appointments have been made.
The new and former faces on the list indicate that there were more male appointments than females by the President.
Per the statement, President Akufo-Addo has submitted to Parliament for prior approval through Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin nine new ministers out of which four are females, representing 44 percent.
Under the Deputy Ministerial Appointments, the President selected twelve persons out of which only one was female, which represents 8 percent. More males, representing 92 per cent have been appointed by the President to serve as Deputy Ministers in respective ministries.
No female was re-assigned to another ministry under section ‘C’ of the statement released from the Office of the Presidency.
Below are the women who have been designated to serve in ministerial and deputy ministerial positions.
A. New Ministerial Appointments
- Fatimatu Abubakar
Fatimatu Abubakar has been appointed by President Akufo-Addo to head the Information Ministry.
Before her appointment, she served as the Deputy Minister for Information under the governing New Patriotic Party since 2021.
She replaces Kojo Oppong Nkrumah who has now been appointed as the minister designate for Works and Housing.
Aside from her political career, she is a lawyer and an entrepreneur.
She is yet to be vetted and approved by the Parliament of Ghana.
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- Lydia Seyram Alhassan
Lydia Seyram Alhassan, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso West Wuogon and Deputy Majority Whip has been appointed as the minister for Sanitation and Water Resources.
She takes over from Freda Akosua Prempeh, the outgoing Member of Parliament for Tano North. Freda Prempeh is one of the incumbent MPs who could not retain her seat during the internal primaries.
The controversial Sanitation and Water Resources Ministry before the Tano North MP’s appointment in 2023 was headed by Cecilia Abena Dapaah, who resigned last year following a scandal over several foreign and local currencies her house helps allegedly stole from her residence.
Lydia Seyram Alhassan’s appointment as the new minister for Sanitation and Water Resources is yet to be approved by Parliament.
- Ophelia Mensah Hayford
Ophelia Mensah Hayford, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Mfantseman has been appointed as the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
She replaces Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, the outgoing Member of Parliament for Sefwi Wiawso who has voluntarily decided not to return to Parliament after the 2024 general elections.
Ophelia joined the 7th Parliament in 2020 following the death of her husband the late Mr. Ekow Kwansah Hayford, the then MP who was shot dead by assailants.
The former Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP) is one of the lucky incumbent MPs who will be contesting in the 2024 parliamentary election as she won the recently held NPP parliamentary primaries with 825 votes against her strongest contender, Mr Korsah-Brown, who obtained 232 votes.
Her appointment is yet to be approved by Parliament as stipulated in the statement released from the office of the President.
- Dakoa Newman
Dakoa Newman, a member of the Public Accounts Committee(PAC) and the Member of Parliament for the Okaikwei South Constituency has been appointed as the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.
She replaces Lariba Zuweira Abudu, the MP for Walewale who suffered defeat in the recently held internal elections.
The three-term parliamentary candidate’s appointment like the other designated ministers is yet to be vetted and approved by Parliament.
B. Deputy Ministers of State Designate
- Adelaide Ntim
Adelaide Ntim, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Kwamang Beposo Constituency has been appointed as the Deputy Minister for Health.
She is the only female to be nominated as a Deputy Minister.
She succeeds Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah, the outgoing Member of Parliament for the Weija-Gbawe constituency who was conquered by Jerry Ahmed Shaib in the NPP primaries.
The two-term parliamentary candidate’s appointment is yet to be approved by the Parliament of Ghana.