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President Akufo-Addo yesterday swore in the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akim Swedru, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, as a Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture and entreated him not to do anything that would seek to undermine his (Nyarko’s) minister.

Such a behaviour, he said, would be the last thing he would take from any of his appointees.

“Two or three guidances from me: one, the complete, unconditional loyalty to your mnister…there can never be a situation where I will choose you over my minister; I’ve chosen him because I have full confidence in him as I do in all my ministers, to be able to lead the government efforts in their various departments,” President Akufo-Addo stressed.

The need to fill the vacant position arose following the resignation of the MP for Akim Oda, William Quaitoo, over comments many thought were tribal in nature.

He advised Mr Osei Nyarko, “You are there to assist him and that is by giving him your best counsel, working with him in an atmosphere of transparency and sincerity.”

He asked him to do whatever it takes to assist his minister – Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto – to help achieve the targets they have set for themselves, the government and the people of Ghana, especially in the implementation of one of his government’s programmes – ‘Planting for Food and Jobs.’

President Akufo-Addo has since asked the deputy minister to declare his assets in conformity with the laws of the land.

Mr Osei Nyarko thanked the president for the offer.