Positive reaction to ministerial nominations

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA - The leaders in Parliament on Friday reacted positively to the first list of ministerial nominations, saying President John Evans Atta Mills had blended the old and new and taken into account gender and geographical considerations. Mr. Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader in an interview with the GNA, said the first batch of nominees gave a lot of hope with the inclusion of fresh faces in the executive.

He said this was an indication that, "we will have premium in the governance of the country".

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader, making initial comments on the ministerial appointments, said President Atta Mills' blending of old and new and the gender and geographical balancing was fine. He said what was left was for Parliament's Appointment Committee to delve into the backgrounds of the nominees to ensure that only competent people were appointed.

Under the country's system of governance, the Executive has to appoint about 50 per cent of Ministers from Parliament. There have been concerns from some quarters that this arrangement weakens the independence of the Legislature.

President Atta Mills on Thursday released a list of 10 sector ministers, including five women and five regional ministers, including one woman, he has nominated for vetting by Parliament. The MPs are Mr. Mike Hammah, MP for Effutu, Ministry of Transport; Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo, MP for Ada and former Director General of the Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Education; Ms Akua Sena Dansua, MP for North Dayi, Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs; Mrs Juliana Azumah Mensah, MP for Ho East, Ministry of Tourism and Mr Harruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South, Ministry of Communications.

Mr Collins Dauda, NDC parliamentary candidate for Asutifi South, is the President's nominee for Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Other nominees for ministries are Ms Hannah Tetteh, a lawyer and spokesperson of the Government Transition team, Ministry of Trade and Industry; Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei, former Director of Power, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ministry of Energy; Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, Director of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, London, and former Chief State Attorney and Copyright Administrator, Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General, and Ms. Shirley Ayittey, an aide to the former first Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and Managing Director for Caridem Dvelopment Company Limited, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology.

President Atta Mills also named five women for ministerial appointments. They are Ms. Dansua, Mrs Azumah Mensah, Ms Tetteh, Mrs Mould Iddrisu and Ms. Ayittey.

The full list of nominated Regional Ministers has one woman, Ms Ama Benyiwa-Doe (Central Region) and one MP, Nii Armah Ashitey, MP for Klottey Korle, (Greater Accra Region). The others are Mr Mahmood Khalid (Upper West Region), Mr Nyamekye Marfo (Brong Ahafo Region) and Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, NDC National Organiser, (Eastern Region) 24 Jan. 09