President names sector and regional ministers
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Thursday announced his picks to fill key ministerial positions in his government.
The names of key sector nominees and regional ministers, have been forwarded to Parliament for vetting and approval.
Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, former finance minister has being named the finance minister-designate, whilst Mr Albert Kan Dapaah retains his portfolio as the National Security minister.
Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten has also been kept at the Trade and Industry ministry.
Messrs Dominic Nitiwul and Ambrose Dery will continue at the Defence and Interior ministries respectively.
Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botwe has been renominated Foreign minister, whilst Godfred Dame, has been penned as Attorney General and Justice Minister.
The Pressident has also nominated Mr Dan Botwe for the Local Government, Decentralisation & Rural Development ministry.
Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Majority leader in parliament has been designated minister for Parliamentary affiars, whilst Madam Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the legislator for Ablekuma West, has been called for the Communications and Digitalisation Ministry.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto returns to the Food and Agriculture ministry, and the Member of Parliament for Manhyia, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh will head to the Energy ministry.
Former deputy Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has been nominated to head that Ministry.
Mr Kwaku Agyemang Manu has been maintained at the Health Ministry, and former deputy chief of staff at the Presidency, Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor goes to the Lands and Natural Resources ministry.
Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta stays at the Roads and Highways ministry, whilst former deputy chief of staff, Mr Francis Asenso Boakye, who oined the eighth parliament as the member for Bantama, goes to the Works and Housing ministry.
President Akufo-Addo has kept Kwaku Ofori Asiamah back at the Transport ministry, and reassigned the for minister for Special Develooment Initiatives, Mavis Hawa Koomson to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Development ministry.
Mr John Peter Amewu, the former Energy minister has been nominated Minister for Railways Development.
Cecilia Abena Dapaah retains her position at the Sanitation and Water Resources Ministry, and the former Business Development minister, Dr Awal Mohammed has been sent to the Ministry for Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Former Minister for procurement, Sarah Adwoa Safo goes to the Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry, and Ebenezer Kojo Kum, MP for Ahanta West has been nominated as Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister-designate.
Dr Kwaku Afriyie, a former minister of state at the Presidency has been nominated for the Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation Ministry.
The President has retained Ignatius Baffuor Awuah, MP for Sunyani West and Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah at the Employment and Labour Relations and Information Ministries respectively.
Mr Mustapha Yussif, MP for Yagaba Kubori and former National Service Coordinator, has been nominated to head the Youth and Sports Ministry.
Mr Joseph Cudjoe, MP for Effia Constituency in the Western region, has been nominated for the newly-created Ministry for Public Enterprises.
Madam Freda Prempeh, Tano North legislator, has been nominated Minister of State for Works and Housing.
For the regional government, President Akufo-Addo has nominated Mr Goerge Boake for the Ahafo Region; retained Simon Osei-Mensah for the Ashanti Region, and named Justina Owusu-Banahene for the Bono region.
Mr Adu Gyan has been called for the Bono East region, whilst Madam Justina Marigold Assan has been nominated for the Central region.
Former MP for Mpreaso, Seth Acheampong has been nominated for the Eastern region, and Henry Quartey, MP for Ayawaso Central and former Deputy National security minister has been named as the Greater Accra regional minister-designate.
Mr Shani Alhassan Saibu, Mr Yidana Zakarian and Mr Joseph Makubu have been nominated as regional ministers-designate for Northern, North East and Oti regions respectively.
Mr Saeed Muhazu Jibril goes to the Savannah, Mr Stephen Yakubu to Upper East and Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih to the Upper West Region.
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa has been retained as the Volta regional minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah also stays as the Western regional minister, and Mr Richard Obeng will go to the Western North region.
The President has pruned his government from 126 ministers in his first term to 85 to reflect his resolve to have a leaner government in his second term
He has reduced the number of ministries from 36 to 28. He is yet to furnish Parliament with his nominees for Deputy ministerial positions.
Source: GNA