Deputy ministers’ list pops up

President John Dramani Mahama is set to release the list of nominees to serve in his government as Deputy Ministers, in the next couple of days.

Among the list of names that DAILY GUIDE has stumbled upon include that of hard-talking member of the communications team of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Felix Kwakye Ofosu.

He is the son of Chairman of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Kofi Totobi Kwakye, a former National Security Coordinator in the Jerry Rawlings PNDC government.

Kwakye-Ofosu is said to have been penciled for the position of Deputy Information Minister.

If nominated and subsequently approved by Parliament, Felix Kwakye Owusu would replace Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who currently occupies the position, with Mahama Ayariga as the substantive Minister.

Also tipped for appointment are the Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa North, James Agalga, who has been penciled for the position of Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports while his colleague MP for Nanton, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, is said to be likely to be nominated as Deputy Minister of Transport.

Kwame Awuah Darko, who contested but lost the parliamentary seat for Ayawaso-West-Wuogon to Emmanuel Agyarko, has been tipped for Deputy Minister of Agric.

The name of James Agyenim-Boateng has also popped up as likely to be nominated for the position of Deputy Minister of Tourism whilst another new entrant to the House and MP for Ledzokuku, Benita Sena Okiti Dua, has been tipped to be nominated to deputize controversial Nana Oye-Lithur at the Ministry of Children, Gender and Social Protection.

In the unlikely event that Felix Kwakye Ofosu is not nominated, he is said to be seriously considering the option of contesting in the upcoming congress of the NDC for the position of National Propaganda Secretary, a title which is currently being held by Richard Quashigah.

It is however not clear if President Mahama would bow to pressures from within the party to drop some names.

However, a source at the presidency told the paper that the President insists on being given a free hand to nominate his choice of Deputy Ministers as he did in appointing his substantive Ministers.