The 17 new Ministers consist of nine sector ministers and eight Regional Ministers, bringing the total number of Ministers so far to 42.
The nine sector Ministers include Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Minister of Labour, Jobs, and Employment; Mr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology; and Mr Samuel Nartey George, Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation.
Others are Mr Kofi Iddie Adams, Minister of Sports and Recreation; Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, Minister of Transport; Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health and Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State in-charge of Government Communications; and Mr Seidu Issifu, Minister of State in-charge of Climate Change and Sustainability.
The eight Regional Ministers are Mrs Charity Gardener, Ahafo Regional Minister; Mr Salisu Be-Awuribe Issifu, Savannah Regional Minister, Mr Wilbert Petty Brentwum, North West Regional Minister; and Mr Joseph Nelson, Western Regional Minister.
The rest are Mr Joseph Addai Akwaboa, Bono Regional Minister; Mr Francis Owusu Antwi, Bono East Regional Minister; Mr Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, Central Regional Minister; and Mr Puozuing Charles Lwanga Upper West Regional Minister.
The President in his message to the Ministers said there would be no room for arrogance and pomposity in his government.
“The resources that you’ll be working with belong to the Ghanaian people who put us in office. Those resources are not to be wasted on opulence and extravagance,” he said.
The President banned all his Ministers and appointees from embarking on official foreign travels on first class tickets, as part of efforts to cut down cost.
“I’ve asked the Chief of Staff to write to all government appointees that I have imposed a ban on non-essential travel forthwith to cut down expenditure,” he stated.
“Any trip that is deemed essential and necessary must be cleared first to the office of the Chief of Staff. As such, travel will have to be undertaken in modesty, not first class.”
He cautioned his Ministers and appointees that all traces of affluence and lavish lifestyle were to be avoided.
President Mahama said the people of Ghana were enduring tough times occasioned by hardships resulting from the economic mismanagement of the last eight years; declaring that “and ours is to work to lift them out of this hole, not to compound it further, not to compound it further”.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of his colleague Ministers expressed gratitude to the President for the confidence he had in them.
He noted that they would serve with the highest sense of integrity.
“We have no excuse to fail Ghanaians. We will serve with the highest sense of integrity, with modesty as President John Dramani Mahama has emphasized. We will protect the public purse,” Mr Ablakwa said.
Source: myghanadaily
