President John Mahama has charged his ministers to “operate an open door policy” since that is the surest means to see to the needs of Ghanaians.

Swearing in two deputy ministers at the seat of government – the Flagstaff House – on Tuesday, Mahama noted it takes a great deal of patience to deal with people from all walks of life hence his new appointees must cultivate that trait.

Emmanuel Bombande and Joseph Angmor Tetteh – deputy ministers for Foreign Affairs and the Eastern region respectively – were cleared by Parliament last week, leaving out John Oti Bless, deputy minister-designate for local government. Bless, who doubles as MP for Nkwanta North, had his clearance placed on ice following some withering remarks he made about the chief justice Georgina Wood.

He has since apologised to the head of the bench at the behest of the Speaker Edward Joe Adjaho.

President Mahama advised the new junior ministers to be modest and humble in the discharge of their duties, adding they are being appointed to serve people and not to Lord over them.

He asked the duo to be “diligent and support” their substantive Ministers, who are also MPs and will be occupied with campaigning in their constituencies this election year.

Bombande, on behalf of his colleague, expressed gratitude to the president and promised they will live above reproach.