Andrew Egyapa Mercer ESQ
Lawyer and politician, Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, has been nominated by President Akufo-Addo for the position of Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture.
Mercer is the member of parliament for Sekondi, Western Region, Ghana, and is a member on the Constitutional, Legal & Parliamentary Affairs, the Privileges and the Special Budget Committees of Parliament.
He also served as Deputy Minister for Energy.
After vetting and approval by parliament, Mercer will succeed Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, a journalist, marketer, and serial entrepreneur, who served as the MoTAC lead (2021-2024) after Barbara Oteng Gyasi's two-year tenure (2019-2021); prior, he was the Business Development Minister (2017-2021).
Mark Okraku-Mantey, who served as deputy to Dr Awal, remains at post.
According to a statement, dated Wednesday, February 14, 2024, signed and issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, the ministerial reshuffle takes immediate effect.
The statement also noted: "The President personally expressed his sincere appreciation directly to each of the Ministers and Deputy Ministers, who have exited Government, for their commitment, competence, dedication and hard work in office, which helped in the realization of Government’s mandate to the Ghanaian people over the last seven (7) years, and wished each of them well in their future endeavours."
1. Ministers axed:
Ken Ofori-Atta - Finance
Kwaku Agyeman Manu - Health
Dr Kwaku Afriyie - Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
Kwasi Amoako-Atta - Roads and Highways
Lariba Abudu - Gender, Children and Social Protection
Dan Botwe - Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development
Freda Prempeh - Sanitation and Water Resources
Ibrahim Mohammed Awal - Tourism, Arts and Culture
Joseph Makubu - Oti Region
2. Minister designates:
Dr Bernard Okoe Boye - Health
Ophelia Mensah Hayford - Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
Fatimatu Abubakar - Information
Dakoa Newman - Gender, Children and Social Protection
Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah - Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development
Lydia Seyram Alhassan - Sanitation and Water Resources
Andrew Egyapa Mercer - Tourism, Arts and Culture
Titus Glover - Greater Accra Region
Daniel Machator - Oti Region
3. Ministers of Tourism, Arts & Culture under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo:
Catherine Ablema Afeku
Barbara Oteng Gyasi
Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal
Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer (Designate)
