Frimpong Boateng For Science & Technology, Afriyie Akoto For Agric- Akufo-Addo Confirms

Professor Frimpong Boateng will be Science, Technology and Innovation Minister if approved by Parliament.

That is the confirmation by president elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as he addresses patrons of the Apostle Kojo Sarfo Technology Fair, Sunday.

In yet another confirmation that will give an idea as to what his cabinet will be if sworn-in on January 7, 2017, President-elect said Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto will be his Agric Minister if approved by Parliament.

This brings to three the number of confirmed appointees to specific portfolios. Alan Kyeremanten had early on been confirmed as the Trade and Industry Minister in the Akufo-Addo government.

Others have had the president elect sealing their positions in his government but fell short of naming the exact positions they will occupy.

Deputy Minority Leader Dominic Nitiwul and Hajia Alima Mahama all received laudations and a promise of a place in government by the president elect when he was interacting with identifiable groups.

Even though he has not formally spoken about which positions he would put Moustapha Hamid and Isaac Asiamah, delegating the two to represent him in a final meeting with the Black Stars before their departure for their Nations Cup tournament in Gabon meant the two men may play a role as Information and Sports Minister respectively.

Science & Technology

Nana Akufo-Addo told patrons at the Apostle Kojo Sarfo Technology Fair that Science, Technology and Innovation will be a key driver in moving the development objectives of his government.

“Science Technology and Innovation are key to development in the 21st century,” he said, and needed a man competent enough to steer the affairs of that ministry.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the sector is on his “heart”  and hopefully by the end of his administration he would have changed devoted more attention to the Sciences as compared to the Humanities.

He said the former CEO of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has the expertise to man that all important position.

Prof Boateng is credited for setting up the Korle Bu Cardiothoracic Centre and revered for the major turnaround he brought at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital.

He contested to lead the NPP but lost to Akufo-Addo in 2008 and has since supported the president elect. It will be his first ministerial appointment if he is approved by Parliament’s appointment committee.

With agric facing a major setback in recent years, Nana Akufo-Addo believes Dr Afriyie Akoto who has been the Minority spokesperson on Agriculture over the years has the competence to resuscitate the sector.

With the tot-tot confirmation style adopted by the president elect, it is not clear which of his mean will receive another confirmation before the final list of ministers is released.

Joy News’ Parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobbey said the full list is likely to be released after he has been sworn in office.

By: Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah