After hours of deliberation, Parliament approved the nominations of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo’s new ministers.
The approval means that Adansi Asokwa MP K.T Hammond is now the Minister of Trade and Industry, with Dr. Stephen Amoah, Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, serving as his deputy.
Bryan Acheampong, the Member of Parliament for Abetifi, is also the substantive Minister for Food and Agriculture, and Stephen Asamoah Boateng is the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Mr. Osei Bonsu Amoah, MP for Akuapem South, is now a Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development.
Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, the MP for Karaga and the former Deputy Minister of Energy has been appointed as a Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance.
The Appointments Committee was unable to recommend approval of the nominees based on consensus, forcing the House to vote on the ministers’ fate.
The report of the Appointments Committee on the nominees was debated in Parliament on Thursday, while voting took place on Friday, March 24, 2023
The Minority vehemently rejected the Majority’s efforts to postpone the voting.
After the exercise was suspended, the Minority caucus in Parliament insisted on voting on President Nana Akufo- Addo’s ministerial nominees today.
The Speaker, Alban Bagbin, suspended sitting due to the failure of both sides to agree on how to vote for the approval of two Supreme Court Justices and Ministers and Deputy Ministers nominated by President Akufo-Addo
The Majority demanded that voting for Supreme Court Justices and Ministers be done concurrently, but the Minority insisted on separate voting and counting.
The Majority also demanded that MPs from their side openly display their votes, but this was quickly rejected by the Minority, who insisted on secret voting.
“We want the voting today, Friday, March 24, 2023, and not any other day. We urge those on the Majority side to return to Parliament immediately, so we vote.”
“We are ready with all our MPs and want the voting right away.”
