Former Deputy Education Minister and Member of Parliament for Assin South, John Ntim Fordjour, has urged newly appointed ministers in the John Mahama administration to safeguard the gains made by the previous Akufo-Addo government.
The lawmaker advised the ministers not to abandon the advocacy they championed while in opposition but to work diligently for the betterment of Ghanaians.
Speaking during the debate on the approval of ministerial nominations in Parliament on Tuesday, January 21, the former Deputy Minister addressed Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, Roads and Highways Minister Governs Kwame Agbodza, and Food and Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku.
On Eric Opoku, he stated: “He should ensure that the initiatives he enumerated to the committee actually translate into a reduction in food inflation. We also expect to see how he upholds the advocacy he championed when he was a ranking member for the agriculture committee, particularly his promise that if they were in power, they would offer cocoa farmers GH¢6,000 per bag instead of the GH¢3,100 per bag that our previous government offered.”
Speaking about Governs Kwame Agbodza, he remarked: “He articulated a lot of competence and demonstrated his knowledge and experience. We are hopeful that he will translate those experiences into the new portfolio he has been appointed to.”
He added: “In respect of Honorable Haruna Iddrisu, it is my expectation that he will leverage his expertise and the mark he made when he previously served as Minister for Communications, Minister for Trade and Industry, and Minister for Employment and Labour Relations to navigate the complexities of the education ministry.”
Parliament on Tuesday, approved six ministerial nominees submitted by President John Dramani Mahama.
These are Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Energy Minister John Jinapor, Attorney General and Justice Minister Dr. Dominic Ayine, Food and Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, and Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Minister of Roads and Highways.