This represents only 17% of the total list announced by the Minister for Local Government, Hajia Alima Mahama in Accra today [Wednesday].

The Brong Ahafo Region had the most number of women appointees followed by the Greater Accra Region, with 6 and 5 women respectively to occupy the position.

President Akufo-Addo ahead of his election to office, gave assurances that he would appoint more female appointees to serve in his government as a way of encouraging women participation in the governance process.

His New Patriotic Party (NPP) election 2016 manifesto promised to appoint at least thirty percent (30%) of women into public office positions.

Out of the 37 substantive and regional ministers named by the President, only 10 of them, representing 27% females.

See the breakdown of the list of women appointed as MMDCEs below:

Ashanti region

Martina Appiah-Nyantakyi       – Ahafo Ano North

Beatrice Serwah Derkyi              – Ejisu-Juaben

Mary Boatemaa Marfo                – Sekyere East

Catherine Reckling                     – Sekyere South

Brong-Ahafo region

Mary Okone                                  – Banda

Mary Ameyaa                               – Dormaa West

Gifty Akosa Arthur                      – Nkoranza North

Diana Attaa-Kusiwaa                  – Nkoranza South

Evelyn Ama Kum-Richardson  – Sunyani East

Charity Foriwaa Dwommoh      – Tain

Central region

Felicia Aba Hagan                      – Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese

Justina Marigold Assan            – Agona West

Eastern region

Florence Governor                     –  Ayensuano

Comfort Asante                          – New Juaben

Margaret Darko                         – Suhum

Greater Accra region

Sarah Dugbakie Pobee                 – Ada East

Janet Tulasu Mensah                   – Ga East

Gladys Mann Dedey                     – La Dade Kotopon

Jennifer Dede Afagbedzi             – La Nkwantanang Madina

Adjeley Twum Gyamrah             – Ledzokuku-Kwowor

Northern region

Alele Veronica Heming                – Bole

Mariama Iddrisu                         – Sagnarigu

Hajia Ayishetu Seidu                   – Savelugu-Nanton

Hajia Amama Ayibu                    – Tolon

Upper East region

Victoria Ayamba                         – Bawku East

Agnes Anamoo                           – Nabdam

Zubeiru Abdulair                       – Pusiga

Upper West region

Nadi Sanda Imoro                      – Daffiama Bussie Issa

Katherine Lankono                     – Nadowli

Christine Bonbbanye-Amadu       – Jirapa

Volta region

Josephine Ohene Boateng            – Adaklu

Millicent Kabuki Carboo               – Biakoye

Ella Boateng                                     – South Dayi

Western region         

Henrietta Mary Eyison                – Ahanta West

Martha Kwayie Manu                  – Juaboso

Helena Appiah                              – Wasa Amenfi West

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Akufo-Addo names 36 women out of 216 for MMDCE positions appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the president has appointed too many ministers to serve in government, arguing this will have negative implications on the public purse.

President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday made new ministerial appointments, bringing the number appointed so far to 110.

[contextly_sidebar id=”oCWAejAEkhKkKdQg5hrCIzBOly3y5LB6″]Reacting to the news, Franklin Cudjoe told Richard Sky on Eyewitness News that the size of the current government does not reflect the pledge by Nana Akufo-Addo to protect the public purse.

“You would have thought that the words used by the president himself in the run-up to the 2016 elections that he will protect the public purse will be minded at least so when I hear the minister for information saying the economy is a weak economy, and so you need a strong army of people, well then you may as well add militia people.”

Franklin Cudjoe said although the President had the constitutional right to appoint ministers of a number of his choice, it is not prudent to appoint too many of them.

He described the appointment as a “legal plunder” in the face of the country’s weak economy.

“The second justification for this which tells me that we’ve completely lost the plot, is this whole business that because the constitution allows it, there is an open-ended opportunity, in my description of prudence, that falls under legal plunder.  The fact that the law says that you can go and on does not mean that the very weak fundamentals of the economy that you said you met should be plundered in this manner” he said.

“An output based governance is based on some serious policy. You take education, for instance, the major deliverable is ‘Free SHS’, have you seen any major policy document guiding how this will be deployed?… Have you seen a policy called planting for food and jobs? To see that we have a minister of state for Agriculture at the presidency and at the same time we have two deputy ministers for Agriculture, what will they be doing?” he quizzed.

‘Ghana can do with 30 ministers’   

Meanwhile, Frankling Cudjoe has suggested that the country needs just bout 30 ministers to serve in the various ministries.

According to him, some countries with larger economies have fewer ministries or ministers than Ghana.

“This country can do with about 30 ministers and that is set. I’ve been to Australia and the UK, and their institutions and ministries that are being collapsed into desks for agency heads. That is a country that is vast like a continent in itself. I think 30 ministers can do for this country,” he said.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/GhanaFollow @jnyabor

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According to him, the persons appointed to serve in the incoming government represent a fair blend of gender, age and competence.

Nana Akufo-Addo on Wednesday named some 12 individuals who will serve as his administrative staff, when he takes over as President on January 7, 2017.

Speaking on Eyewitness news, the leadership and management consultant said, he has confidence in some of the key appointments made by the President-elect.

“Ken Dapaah, if there is any Ghanaian who is qualified for the position he has been nominated for, he is one of those people… He is a very excellent appointment. Frema Osei-Opare is also an excellent appointment, I know her. She is down to earth and very competent.”

Prof Adei, who has heavily criticized the conduct of some young ministers in the outgoing National Democratic Congress (NDC) government said the inclusion of young people in Akufo-Addo’s government can help him succeed if they are seasoned and also competent.

“I think that the combination of the experienced and youth is quite a good one, and also makes sure that Nanna Akufo Addo is not going to rule only with grey hair, but the young people must be seasoned. There must be young people who know how to ‘wash their hands’ and not go and insult people and pull the Presidency into disrepute.”

“I don’t know his total cabinet, but at least I’m impressed by what he has put out already and we are waiting for the other appointments for the ministries.”

‘List of Akufo-Addo’s administrative staff’

Announcing the staff at his Nima residence in Accra, Nana Akufo-Addo named Frema Osei-Opare as his Chief of Staff.

He also named renowned lawyer, Nana Bediatuo Asante as his Executive Secretary, while Eugene Arhin was named Director of Communications at the Presidency.

Others names are:

Brigadier General Emmanuel Okyere – National Security Advisor

Lord Commey – Director of Operations at the presidency

Frema Osei-Opare – Chief of Staff

Francis Asenso Boakye – 1st Deputy Chief of Staff

Abu Jinapor- 2nd Deputy Chief of Staff

Ambassador Hassan Ahmed – Director of State Protocol

Saratu Atta – Special Assistant to the president

Joshua Kyeremeh – National Security Coordinator

Victor Newman – Director of Research

Clara Napaga Sulemana Tia – Presidential Staffer

Kan Dapaah – Minister Designate for National Security

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

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He made the announcement at the 36th annual technological exhibition of the Apostle Kantanka Technology Centre on Sunday, January 1.

“Science, technology and innovation are the keys to the 21^st century development. We have to find ways in which Science, Technology and Innovation become the central features of our policies and programmes and of our development. For this reason, if the next Parliament agrees, I will appoint a prominent Ghanaian to come and assist me, and take over the portfolio of the Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation minister, Professor Frimpong-Boateng.”

Akufo-Addo in his address said he is committed to the development of science and technology in the country, and believes the country can shift its focus to achieve a 30:70 ratio for the Humanities to Science related academic courses.

He said the country needed to support and protect pioneers of scientific developments and innovations to enable them do more and teach others to promote the development of a science-rich country.

“What we also have to do is to encourage them. And that is what my government will do. To support people like Apostle Sarfo,” Akufo-Addo said.

‘About Prof. Frimpong Boateng’

Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng is a trained physician and cardiothoracic surgeon who established the National Cardiothoracic Center and the Ghana Red Cross Society.

He is also the President of the Ghana Heart Foundation and was once the Chief Executive Officer of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.

In March 2006, he announced his intention to contest the New Patriotic Party presidential primaries for the December 2008 National Presidential Elections.

He however lost in his attempt against now President-elect, Nana Akuffo-Addo, who had subsequently lost the 2008 elections to the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC), John Evans Atta-Mills.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng is married with five children, and he’s very passionate about science and technology, which remains pivotal to any country’s development.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

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He argued that the country’s current economic challenges require more experienced persons to manage it.

[contextly_sidebar id=”BqmmggTmfpx9QiYixGO48h9dzCsiOLbE”]Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, Professor Adei said, “I think that there is plenty of room for youth in technical work, but much of the cabinet type of level requires a lot of wisdom. I wouldn’t expect too many young people there. I’m talking about those below 45. Many of them will not be in cabinet position, but they will be in very relevant technical positions. I expect one or two of them but at this stage of Ghana’s development, I don’t expect a lot of them. They should be there as the technical advisers and not the decision makers.”

“We saw these babies with sharp teeth and other things and they nearly ruined our country and destroyed our culture with impunity and disrespect,” he added.

‘Appoint ministers beyond NPP members’

Prof. Adei further called on the President-elect to look beyond members of the NPP in appointing his ministers.

He believes that there are competent persons outside the NPP who could effectively serve in government.

“For certain areas, you must go out. Not many of them, you need to get a top person. For instance, when we started the petroleum ministry, Armah Kofi-Buah and the rest what did he know about petroleum? You go to a Ghanaian who is at the top and knows how to manage things for the sake of Ghana.”

He said professionals in various fields should be appointed to serve in relevant offices in government without consideration of their political affiliation.

‘Akufo-Addo meets NPP NEC over appointments’

President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo is expected to present a list of proposed ministers to serve in his government to the New Patriotic Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) today [Thursday].

The party will also in turn present some names to the President-elect for deliberations.

But ahead of this, some Ghanaians have begun speculating and suggesting names for some ministerial positions.

Member of Parliament-elect for La Dadekotopon, Vincent Odotei Sowah, and former Minister under the erstwhile John Kufour administration Alan Kyeremanteng, are among those tipped as likely ministerial appointees to serve in the new government.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Appoint experienced hands, not ‘babies with sharp teeth’ – Prof Adei appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.