Parliament approves nomination of Dr Danaa and 10 others
Parliament on Wednesday approved the nomination of Dr Henry Seidu Danaa, a visually impaired lawyer who is an expert in chieftaincy issues as Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs.
He becomes the first visually impaired person to become a Minister of State. Ten other nominees for various ministerial positions were also approved by consensus.
They include: Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of the Interior, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, Minister of Defense, Nii Armaah Ashitey, Employment Ministry; Ms Hanny-Sherry Hani Ayitey, Minister of Health, Mr Nayon Bilijo, Fisheries and Aquaculture Development; Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Youth and Sports Ministry and Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare, Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Ministry
The others are Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister and Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister.
The Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament and First Deputy Speaker, Mr Ebo Barton-Odro who laid both the Fourth and fifth reports of the Committee on the vetting of the 11 nominees moved a motion for the adoption of the reports.
Mr Alban Bagbin, Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli/Kaleo who was contributing to the ensuing debate on the motion, urged the Executive to give ministers ample time to learn the dynamics of their sectors to be able to give off their best before they are removed from office.
Mr Fritz Baffuor, MP for Ablekuma South who supported the appointment of Dr Danaa said the move would open more doors for people with disabilities who could be entrusted with higher responsibilities.
He said the merger of the tourism, culture and creative arts into one ministry was long overdue and urged more investments in that sector to enable Ghana to get the desired benefits and to create jobs for the teeming youth of the country.
Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, MP for Odododiodio expressed optimism that the Youth and Sports Minister-designate, would make an enviable impact at the ministry and called for increased investments in the sports sector to enable the country to establish its name in the various sporting disciplines.
The Appointments Committee vetted five other nominees on Wednesday.
They include Mr Samuel Sarpong, Minister designate for Ashanti Region, Mr Ebenezer Kwodwo Teye Addo, Minister designate for Central Region, Mr Bede Ziedeng, Minister designate for Upper West Region, Mr Alhassan Azong and Dr Mustapha Ahmed, both Ministers designate at the Presidency.
Four other personalities nominated to serve at the Presidency are to be vetted on Thursday February 14.
They are Alhaji Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Mr Fifi Kwetey, Alhaji Lumina Mohammed Muniru and Mrs Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah.
Source: GNA
The vetting of MPS for various appointments is a good thing but one questions Parliament fails to ask Ministers and MPS at areas of Chieftaincy disputes is how they are going help resolve theses cases.
The western Regional minister was asked about Sefwi. There is another active area THE GWIRA TRADITIONAL AREA. This is an active boiling point which needs to be looked at, Every year and its on and on. You can verify fron the Regional Police or Axim Police. The Supreme Court gave the house the previlage to rule on it , THAT THE VICTOR IS ALWAYS THE VICTOR AND THE LOSER ALWAYS THE LOSER but its some years now the House of chiefs has refused totally to obey the supreme Court. The place is gradually becoming a dead town with an active dispute. WHAT CAN GOV. OR THE REG. MINISTER OR MPS OR THE SUPREME COURT DO ABOUT THIS.