Last years of Govt must be marked by record achievements-Kufuor

Accra June 16, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor has charged his Ministers to ensure that the two-and-a-half years left for the Government to end its term was marked by record achievements that would forever be treasured by the nation.

"We should finish hard to leave a record, which would make the nation and all our compatriots appreciate that this is a Government they truly deserve"; he said when he swore into office 15 newly appointed Ministers and Deputy Ministers at the Castle, Osu, on Friday. President Kufuor had earlier administered the Oath of Allegiance and those of Minister of State and Secrecy to them.

They included Mr Francis Poku, Minister of National Security; Mr Joe Ghartey, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice; Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Local Government, Rural Development and Environment; Ms Gloria Akuffo, Minister of State of Aviation and Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister of State, Office of the President.

The others were Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister; Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah; Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister; Alhaji Mustapha A. Idris, Northern Regional Minister; Mr Anthony E. Amoah, Western Regional Minister and Nana Ato Arthur, Central Regional Minister.

The Deputy Ministers were Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, Deputy Attorney-General and Deputy Minister of Justice; Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation; Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diasporean Relations; Mr Kwadwo Kwakye, Brong-Ahafo Deputy Regional Minister and Mr Kwasi Blay, Deputy Minister of Western Region.

President Kufuor said the Government in the past five-and-a-half years had achieved a lot and that there were still more successes in the pipeline.

He cautioned them not to do anything that would either dent the image of the Government or derail the smooth running of the machinery of government.

The Ministers and Deputy Minister, he said should be well focused and to ensure total commitment and loyalty.

Additionally, they should be fair, accessible and show respect to all Ghanaians including those on the other side of the political divide, saying all should be given due regard as citizens of the nation. President Kufuor also called for teamwork among the Ministers and their Deputies for effective functioning of the ministries. Mr Poku, on behalf of his colleagues, said they were assuming office conscious of the high standard of good behaviour, the humility and decency President Kufuor had brought to the governance of the country and promised that they were going to emulate him.