Demand for a Northern Regional Minister is needless - Minister

The Minister for Information and Media Relations, Mahama Ayariga, has indicated that there is no leadership vacuum in the Northern Region as the region has an Acting Regional Minister.

“There is somebody on the ground who is serving in the capacity as an Acting Regional Minister.”


This follows a one week ultimatum issued by Coalition of Northern NDC Youth to President John Mahama to nominate a minister for the Northern Region since the region is the only region without a Minister.


Speaking on Citi FM’s Eye Witness news program, The Information Minister indicated that although it happens to be the last region to have a substantive minister, there is an Acting Regional Minister.


According to him, if there are any issues to address, the Acting Regional Minister is in the position to deal with it.


Meanwhile Mohammed Aboagye, an NDC youth activist in the Northern region has denied claims that the youth in the Northern region have given the President a one week ultimatum to appoint a minister for the region.


He assured the Ghanaian populace that the youth of the NDC would not embark on a demonstration.

“We want to assure you and the people of this country that nobody is worried. There is nothing as far as disappointment and threat from any youth group as far as NDC is concerned.”


According to him, since the President comes from the region, he knows the dynamics associated with appointing a Minister for the Region.


“In fact we have a history that we have regional minsters in this region who failed to live up to expectation in terms of providing security for the people of this region.”


He agreed that there is the need for a regional minister but emphasized that the President can’t be manipulated to give the region a minister.


“We are appealing to the President that he should do enough consultation with the party and chiefs in the region as well as opinion leaders across the country before choosing the Minister” he added.