Tue, 07 Feb 23 18:29:16 +0000

K.T. Hammond, Bryan Acheampong to replace Alan, Akoto as cabinet ministers

The Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, Kobina Tahir Hammond has been nominated as Trade and Industry Minister to replace Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen who resigned in January this year to concentrate on his presidential ambition.

The move is part of four new ministerial nominations, two elevations from deputy minister to Minister of State positions and one deputy ministerial reshuffle made by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Also nominated by the president to be deputy minister for the Trade and Industry sector is Dr Stephen Amoah, popularly known as ‘Sticka’, the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso in Kumasi and former CEO of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC).

This is among a list of other nominations, which have been sent to Parliament for vetting and approval before presidential appointment.

4 new nominations, 2 elevations and one deputy ministerial reshuffle

It is made up of four new appointments – K.T. Hammond, Dr Stephen Amoah, Bryan Acheampong and Stephen Asamoah Boateng – and two elevations to the position of Minister of State from deputy ministers – O.B. Amoah, MP for Akwapim South and Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, MP for Karaga and one deputy ministerial reshuffle – Herbert Krapah from Trade to Energy.

Graphic Online’s sources have said it is a dream come true for Dr Stephen Amoah for instance, as he had expressed reservations in political circles for being overlooked with a ministerial appointment, having served as MASLOC boss from 2017 to January 2021 and going ahead to win a Parliamentary seat in a prime constituency in the stronghold of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region, and yet was unable to catch the president’s eye for a ministerial appointment from 2021 through 2022.

Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi in the Eastern Region has been nominated to replace Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto at the Food and Agriculture Ministry.

Dr Akoto also resigned in January to concentrate on his presidential ambition. He together with Alan Kyerematen have declared interest to lead the NPP to election 2024.

They have therefore resigned their positions as cabinet ministers ahead of the presidential primary later in the year and concentrate on their various campaigns.

Bryan Acheampong served as a minister of State at the presidency in President Akufo-Addo’s first term but was not re-appointed in 2021 at the start of the second term.

He had been tipped, or linked to the Interior Ministerial appointment ahead of this announcement in Parliament, having worked in the first term of President Akufo-Addo in a similar capacity as Minister of State at National Security.

Stephen Asamoah Boateng has also been nominated as Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to replace Ebenezer Kojo Kum, who has also resigned on health grounds.

Mr Kojo Kum, MP for Ahanta West in the Western Region has been unwell for sometime, and once even went to Parliament for a crucial vote with an ambulance, Emergency Medical Team (EMT) and medical personnel in wait, whilst the deliberations in Parliament were ongoing.

Asamoah Boateng first served as minister in President Kufuor’s era in 2005 to 2009 having started earlier as a special assistant and later deputy minister from 2001 to 2005 and was appointed as boss of the State Interest Governance Authority (SIGA) in 2017 until he resigned in 2022 to contest the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) national chairmanship position which he lost to Stephen Ntim.

Dr Mohammed Amin Adam has been shifted from the Energy sector as a deputy Minister and elevated to a Minister of State status at the Finance Ministry.

He is to replace Charles Adu Boahen who was removed in 2022 following an expose by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

Similarly, Osei Bonsu Amoah, popularly known as O.B. Amoah has been elevated as a Minister of State at Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.

Herbert Krapah is going to the Energy sector as a deputy Minister to replace Amin Adam who has been elevated.

This was made known in Parliament today following President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s letter to the Speaker of Parliament for the House to consider the nominees for Parliamentary approval.

Graphic Online’s reporter in parliament, Daniel Kenu reported that the the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin read the President’s communication when the House resumed sitting on Tuesday for the 3rd Sitting.