<<Print>>

President John Mahama has issued a stern warning to his appointees that he will not entertain any acts of corruption in his administration. President Mahama gave the caution when he swore-in 17 more Ministers of State at the Flagstaff House at Kanda, Accra. He reminded them that they were enjoined by the constitution to be transparent and accountable in whatever they do in their respective ministries. �People have a suspicion of office holders in terms of transparency and accountability. We are enjoined by the constitution to be held accountable for what happens in our ministries. I told the earlier batch that i swore in to think out of the box and take responsibility of the ministries that they are being sent to....You must eschew corruption, it will not do to pass the buck on the technocrats...The people of Ghana and myself will hold you responsible for the ministry and we expect that you will also hold your subordinates responsible for delivering on the mandate that you have been given,� he said. The ministers were: Ms Hanny-Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Health; Mr Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, Minister of Youth and Sports; Dr Henry Seidu Daannaa, Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs; Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of the Interior; Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, Minister of Defence; Mr Eric Opoku, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, and Nii Armah Ashietey, Minister of Employment and Labour Relations. Others are Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts; Mr Nayon Bilijo, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development; Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, Greater Accra Regional Minister; Dr Benjamin Bewa-Nyog Kunbuor, Minister in-charge of Government Business, and Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Trade and Industry. The rest are Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, Attorney General and Minister of Justice; Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Energy and Petroleum; Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister; Mrs Dzifa Aku Ativor, Minister of Transport, and Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister of Communications. President Mahama administered the oaths of allegiance, Minister of State and oath of secrecy to the ministers. Thereafter, the ministers signed the oath book. The president then presented the scrolls of office to the Ministers of State, who were accompanied by their family members and friends. The swearing in of the 17 ministers of state brought to 28 the total number of ministers of state sworn in so far. Majority leader and Minister in-charge of government business Dr. Benjamin Kumbour who spoke on behalf of his colleagues thanked President Mahama for the trust reposed in them. He said the appointment had imposed a high responsibility on them (Ministers of State), and gave the assurance that they would do their best, saying that "we will not fail you."