Bodi MP Sampson Ahi has accused President Nana Akufo-Addo of violating constitutional provisions mandating regional balance within the cabinet composition.

He expressed concern over the absence of representation for the Western North Region in Cabinet following the removal of Dr Kwaku Afriyie, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation.

In a press conference held in Accra on Wednesday, February 14, Mr Ahi voiced his grievances while stating that this situation has ignited dissatisfaction among traditional leaders and residents of the Western North Region.

“The Constitution urges the president to consider regional balance when composing his cabinet, so we are unhappy.

"We thought that, having sacked Dr Kwaku Afriyie from the Western North, he would have appointed another person from the Western North to replace him, but that did not happen.

"Also, when you go through the list of deputy ministers, we don’t have anyone from the Western North,” he stressed.

Background

President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, relieved 13 Ministers and 10 deputies of their duties immediately, in a massive government shake-up. 

Ministers affected are Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta, Interior Minister Ambrose Dery, Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu, Environment, Science, and Technology Minister Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and Roads and Highways Minister Kwasi, Amoako-Atta.

The rest are Works and Housing Minister Francis Asenso Boakye; Gender, Children, and Social Protection Minister Lariba Abudu; Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Minister Dan Botwe; Sanitation and Water Resources Minister Freda Prempeh; Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Ibrahim Ahmed Awal; Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey; and Oti Regional Minister Joseph Makubu.