New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs, who served as ministers in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s first term, but lost their seats during the election have limited chance of being re-appointed in his second term, highly placed sources at the Office of the President said.
According to deep throat sources within corridors of power, the affected MPs-cum-ministers have been informed of the president’s decision ahead of the announcement of the composition of the new government.
“The directive also affects regional ministers whose regions performed abysmally during the election. They know they are on their way out,” the source told Asaaseradio.com.
Asaaseradio.com understands lobbying behind the scenes has been intense as the president releases his ministerial list in the coming days.
Fresh faces
Sources at the Office of the President reveal that Ghanaians can expect fresh faces in Akufo-Addo’s new government.
For example, even though yet to be confirmed, reports have it that the immediate past education minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who is the MP for Manhyia South, will take over from the newly elected MP for Hohoe in the Volta Region, John Peter Amewu, as Energy Minister.
At the same time, Amewu will move to the Ministry of Railways Development as the substantive minister.
The former deputy education minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum could be elevated to become the substantive minister.
The MP for Okere (Eastern Region), Dan Botwe, moves from the Ministry of Regional Reorganisation and Development to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, while Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Kwaku Ofori Asiamah will retain their portfolios as the Ministers of Agriculture and Transport, respectively.
Some NPP supporters are also rooting for Deputy Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame to be made the substantive minister in the Office of the Attorney General.
New entrants
The new entrants and former deputy chiefs of staff Samuel Abu Jinapor, newly elected as the MP for Damongo, and Francis Asenso-Boakye, the new MP for Bantama, have been tipped for the Lands and Natural Resources and Works and Housing portfolios, respectively.
The National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul, Interior Minister Ambrose Dery and Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah have all been tipped to retain their jobs.
Also expected to retain their positions are the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.
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