Parliament has finally approved the ministerial nominees submitted to the House by President Akufo-Addo.

During a debate to consider whether or not the nominees should be approved on Friday, May 17, the Minority staged a walkout, stressing that they would not be part of the process.

According to Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the caucus is not in support of the approval of the nominees.

“Mr Speaker, the Minority does not support the nominations of these ministers, because of what the country has gone through and continues to go through, including economic crisis, food insecurity, “dumsor”, and reckless borrowing.

“Businesses are struggling. While the government has asked Ghanaians to tighten their belts, the government has loosened its belts.

“Piling up ministers and deputies does not signal to the Ghanaians that the President understands the seriousness of the mess created,” he said.

Subsequently, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, suspended sitting for five minutes to allow tempers to cool.

However, only the Majority was seated when the House resumed sitting, and Mr Bagbin asked for a voice vote.

The Majority then voted in support of the approval of the ministerial nominees.

Full list of ministerial and deputy ministerial nominees

In his first major ministerial reshuffle since 2017, the President designated Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye as the Minister for Health; Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation went to Ophelia Mensah Hayford; Information is Ms. Fatimatu Abubakar, while Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister is Dakoa Newman.

He designated Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah as Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development; Sanitation and Water Resources went to Lydia Seyram Alhassan; Tourism, Arts and Culture to Andrew Egyapa Mercer, while Greater Accra Region and Oti Region went to Titus Glover and Daniel Machator respectively.

The deputy ministerial nominees are for Information, Sylvester Tetteh, MP; Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Vincent Ekow Assafuah; Communications and Digitalisation Charles Acheampong; Health Adelaide Ntim, MP and Alexander Akwasi Acquah; Works and Housing Dr. Prince Hamidu Armah.

The rest are Lands and Natural Resources, Akwasi Konadu; Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Musah Abdul Aziz Ayaba; Energy John Kobina Sanie, and Collins Adomako Mensah; Education Kingsley Nyarko; Employment and Labour Relations Festus Awuah Kwofie; Gender, Children and Social Protection Benjamin Sekyere Yeboah.

• Read also : Parliament to reconvene today for an emergency sitting

Background

Parliament reconvened today for an emergency session.

The recall follows a petition from the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, requesting the session to address outstanding government business.

In a letter directed to the Speaker by the Majority leader, reference was made to Article 112(3) and Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, which authorises 15 per cent of the House members to request Parliament's recall.

On May 20, Parliament suspended the consideration of the nomination of Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State by President Akufo-Addo.

This followed an interlocutory injunction filed at the Supreme Court by MP for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor.

In his final address to the House before adjourning sitting on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin said the lawsuit makes it impossible for Parliament to vet and process the new ministers nominated by President Akufo-Addo.

"Hon Members, I also bring to your attention, the receipt of a process from the Courts titled Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor vrs. The Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney-General ( Suit no. J1/12/2024) which process was served on the 19th of March 2024 and an injunction motion on notice seeking to restrain the Speaker from proceeding with the vetting and approval of the names of the persons submitted by His Excellency the President until the provisions of the constitution are satisfied.

• Read also: Parliament suspends approval of Akufo-Addo’s new ministers, deputies amid row over anti-gay bill

"Hon. Members in the light of this process, the House is unable to continue to consider the nominations of His Excellency the President in the 'spirit of upholding the rule of law' until after the determination of the application for interlocutory injunction by the Supreme Court," he explained.

But the suit before the Supreme Court has since been called and dismissed.