New Mining minister appointed

09:41 a.m. Jan 10, 2000 Eastern

ACCRA, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings named Trade and Industry Minister John Abu on Monday as the new Minister for Mines and Energy, an official statement said.

Deputy mines and energy minister Simon Abinga has held the fort in the ministry since December 9. The last permanent mines minister, Fred Ohene-Kena, was sacked in October after expressing support for a bid for Ghana's Ashanti Goldfields Co Ltd (AGC.GH) from Lonmin Plc (LMI.L).

The bid has since been withdrawn.

Monday's statement said Abu's deputy, Dan Abodakpi, would take over as Minister of Trade and Industry. Rawlings had also named Ghana's ambassador to Cuba, Kwame Danso Boafa as Minister of Health.

At the Ministry for Local Government and Planning, deputy minister Cecilia Johnson had been made the substantive minister, taking over from her boss Kwamena Ahwoi, demoted to the post of deputy minister for planning and regional economic cooperation.