Nominations of 12 Ministers Approved

Accra, July 27, GNA - Parliament on Friday approved the nomination of Mr Akwasi Osei Adjei as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD and Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie(pictured) as Minister of Information and National Orientation.

The House also approved the nominations of 10 newly appointed ministers after the Appointments Committee of Parliament presented its report to the House after vetting the nominees.

The Minister are: Mr Ben Aggrey Ntim, Minister of Communications, Nana Akomea, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment and Mr Joe Baidoo-Ansah, Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiative.

Others are: Mr Samuel Owusu-Agyei, Minister of State in- Charge of Public Sector Reforms, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Nana Obiri Boahene, Minister of State at the Ministry of Interior and Ms Cecilia Dapaah, Minister of State at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing. The rest are: Mr George Benson, Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, Eastern Regional Minister and Mr Alhassan Samari, Upper East Regional Minister.

The House later approved an increase in the District Assemblies' Common Fund from the current five percent to 7.5 of the total national revenue. It takes effect from January 1, 2008.

Increasing demands on the assemblies by government institutions such as the police service, the creation of new districts and the implementation of the National Youth Employment Programme are some reasons for the upward adjustment of Fund.

Members of Parliament called for effective monitoring and oversight responsibility over the assemblies to ensure the proper utilization of monies sent them.

They said the monitoring role of members and auditing by the appropriate agencies must be strengthened.

Meanwhile, the House is expected to rise next week Tuesday after an address by former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, at a special meeting to be held in his honour.