Akufo-Addo drops Otiko in cabinet reshuffle

President Akufo-Addo carried out his first reshuffle of his government yesterday, swapping some ministers in what looks like musical chairs.

Chief among the major casualties was Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister, Otiko Afisa Djaba, who was replaced with the Member of Parliament (MP) for Agona West in the Central Region, Cynthia Morrison.

A statement from the Jubilee House and signed by Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin, indicated that Otiko is now Ghana’s Ambassador-designate to Italy, replacing Paulina Tangoba Abayage, who was the country’s envoy in that country.

Apart from Boakye Agyarko, who lost his position earlier, Otiko was the only casualty in the ministerial reshuffle, which analysts said was not against expectation.

Ambassador Abayage would serve as Upper East Regional Minister if approved by Parliament.

The Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development, Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina has been reassigned as a Minister of State at the Office of the Vice President.

Information Minister, Dr Mustapha Abdul Hamid, has been appointed to replace him.

Deputy Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has now been elevated to the substantive position as Information Minister, while his other colleague, Deputy Minister for Information, Perry Curtis Okudzeto, has been sent to the Ministry of Youth and Sports as Deputy, swapping positions with Pius Enam Hadzide.

Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu, who has been leading the fight against ‘galamsey’ in the country, now replaces sacked Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko while Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, takes over from him as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Kofi Adda, who is Member of Parliament (MP) for Navrongo Central, has swapped positions with Minister for Aviation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.

The President elevated the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Evans Opoku Bobie, who also doubles as Member of Parliament (MP) for Asunafo North to take over from his former boss.

He also nominated the Member of Parliament for Techiman North, Martin Oti Gyarko as his deputy.

Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari, is to serve at the Office of the President as a Minister of State.

President Akufo-Addo expressed the hope that Parliament would expedite the vetting of the Ministers-designate for Information, and Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Regional Ministers-designate for Upper East and Brong Ahafo, as well as the Deputy Regional Minister-designate for Brong Ahafo so they can assume their respective offices as quickly as possible.