Deputies Shaken

President John Agyekum Kufuor has now got a 'full house' of the 2008 Ministerial team, following the release yesterday of a final list of 38 deputy ministers whose nominations have been confirmed by Parliament.

According to a statement released by the Office of the President and signed by Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, this package constitutes the full list of deputy ministers and regional ministers, all of whom have been sworn into office by the President.

While a chunk of them have maintained their old positions, others were caught in the 'reshuffle net', moving from one ministry to another.

Mr. K.T. Hammond has been shunted from the deputy Energy Ministerial position to the Interior Ministry, leaving Kwame Ampofo Twumasi as the deputy Minister for Energy.

Similarly, Daniel Dugan, formerly of Fisheries, is now deputy Minister of Women and Children's Affairs.

Mr. A. Dwuma Odoom, who was formerly with the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, will together with Hon. Gladys N. Ashitey serve as deputy Health Minister.

In the same vein, C.Y. Brempong Yeboah has taken over from Shirley Ayorkor Botchway in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, after he was moved from the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment.

From Foreign Affairs, Hon. Botchway has moved to the Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and PSI Ministry.

Incidentally, the same ministry has received K. Agyeman Manu from the Interior Ministry, while Gifty Ohene-Konadu is still at post as a deputy.

Other names on the list include:
•George Y. Gyan-Baffour -Finance and Economic Planning
•William O. Boafo- Defence
•I.K. Poku-Adusei - Fisheries
•Sophia Horner-Sam- Ports, Harbours and Railways
•Clement Eledi & Anna Nyamekye- Food and Agriculture
•Maxwell Kofi Jumah - Local Government
•A. Awudu Yeremiah - Rural Development and Environment
•Rita Tani Iddi & A. Adjei-Yeboah -Lands, Forestry and Mines
•K. Osei Prempeh -Attorney General and Ministry of Justice
•Christopher Addai -Water Resources, Works and Housing
•Kwame Amporfo Twumasi -Energy
•Kofi Osei Ameyaw -Tourism and Diaspora Relations
•C.Y. Brempong-Yeboa -Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD
•Frank Agyekum -Information and National Orientation
•Baiden-Amissah & O.B. Amoah -Education, Science and Sports
•A. Frema Osei-Opare - Manpower, Youth and Employment
•F. Opare-Ansah - Communications
•Magnus E. Opare-Asamoah -Transport
•Mercy Bampoe-Addo -Deputy Minister - Office of the President
Deputy Regional Ministers:
•Ashanti Deputy Minister - Osei Assibey Antwi
•Brong Ahafo Deputy Minister - Kwadwo Kwakye
•Central Deputy Minister - Samuel K. Obodai
•Eastern Deputy Minister - Asamoah Ofosu
•Greater Accra Deputy Minister - Theresa A. Tagoe
•Upper East Deputy Minister - Agnes A. Chigabatia
•Upper West Deputy Minister - Winifred Asibi Dy-Yakah
•Volta Deputy Minister - Joseph K. Nayan
•Western Deputy Minister - Kwasi Blay

With all these names getting Parliamentary approval, President Kufuor's original list has fallen short by only three nominees.
While the Appointments Committee of Parliament has flatly rejected the nomination of Rev. Dr. Akwasi Owusu-Bi as deputy minister for Trade, Industry, PSD and PSI, those of Emmanuel Kenwuud Nuworso and Victoria Bright were deferred pending further investigations into their backgrounds.