How MPs Voted For Akufo-Addo’s Six New Ministers
The Ghanaian Parliament has approved the appointment of six new ministers, and a deputy minister, by President Akufo-Addo.
The approval came after several hours of tension in the House, as the Appointments Committee could not recommend the nominees on consensus.
The voting process took about an hour, followed by the sorting and counting of ballot papers by some staff members of Parliament. The Speaker, Alban Bagbin, then announced the results, which showed that all the nominees had been approved by the Parliament.
The Minority Caucus had earlier threatened to reject all the nominees, but some members of the National Democratic Congress voted in favour of the nominees, leading to their approval.
The newly approved ministers are KT Hammond (Minister-designate for Trade and Industry), Bryan Acheampong (Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture), Stephen Asamoah Boateng (Minister-designate for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs), Mohammed Amin Adam (Minister of State-designate at the Ministry of Finance), Osei Bonsu Amoah (Minister of State-designate at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development), and Dr. Stephan Amoah (Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry).
The voting results showed that all the ministers had secured more ‘Yes’ votes than ‘No’ votes, with only a few rejected ballots and abstentions.
This approval paves the way for the new ministers to assume their respective roles and work towards achieving the objectives of the government.
President Akufo-Addo appointed the new ministers in February 2023, after making changes to his cabinet, in what was seen as a move to strengthen the government’s commitment to delivering on its promises.
The approval of the nominees by Parliament is a significant milestone for the government and is expected to bolster its efforts to implement its policies and programs.
In conclusion, the approval of the six new ministers is a testament to the strength of Ghana’s democracy and the ability of its institutions to function effectively.
The new ministers have a critical role to play in advancing the development agenda of the country, and their approval by Parliament is a step in the right direction.
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