Parliament on Wednesday unanimously gave the nod to 10 regional ministers and two other ministers of state, bringing to 27 ministers in the NPP government.
The Appointments Committee, in its fourth report, gave the names of the additional ministers as Mallam Ali Yusif Isah, Minister of Youth and Sports, and Dr Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation.
The Committee suspended Dr Nduom's screening at the first sitting to check investigations conducted on him by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) but vetted him during the second sitting during which he acquitted himself to the admiration of members of the Committee.
The Regional Ministers are Sheikh I.C. Quaye, Greater Accra; Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, Eastern; Nana Owusu-Yeboa, Volta; Mr S.K. Boafo, Ashanti; and Mr Isaac E. Edumadze, Central Region.
The rest are Mr Joseph B. Aidoo, Western; Mr Ernest Kwaku Debrah, Brong-Ahafo; Mr Ben Bukari Salifu, Northern; Mr Salifu Mahami, Upper East; and Mr Mogtari Sahanun, Upper West.
Mr Freddie Blay, Chairman of the committee, in a motion, recommended the nominees for approval and was seconded by Mr Eugene Atta Adjepong (NPP Abetifi).
Supporting the motion, Mr Cletus Avoka (NDC Bawku West) said he would like to differ from earlier speakers who were congratulating the nominees.
He asked President John Agyekum Kufuor to indicate who should be cabinet ministers in his administration.
Mr Avoka said this is a constitutional requirement and it is necessary for the President to give those indications because cabinet ministers should not be less than 10 and not more than 19.
He quoted Article 76 (1), which states: "There shall be a cabinet, which shall constitute of the President and the Vice President and not less than 10 and not more than 19 ministers of state".
Mr Avoka said he feared there would be duplication of Dr Nduom's office of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation and that of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), which is constitutionally charged with economic planning.
He said the NDPC reports directly to the President, adding: "this could conflict with the duties of that of Dr Nduom".
The Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, cut in to say that the member was raising a collateral constitutional issue, which was not the motion on the floor.
Mr J.H. Mensah, Majority Leader, said the issue would not pose any problem after the government settles down and the Council of State is put in place for the appointment of Chairman of the NDPC.
Mr Kosi Kedem (NDC Hohoe South) in congratulating the minister-designates said he believed that most of the new ministers were finding it uncomfortable in their portfolios because they were critics of the previous government and were now afraid of being criticised.
Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe (NDC Gomoa West) and Mrs Grace Coleman (NPP Effiduase Asokore) were not happy that there was not even a woman among the regional ministers and prayed the President to consider that since there is now a Ministry of Women's Affairs.
