The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, who has been nicknamed ‘Accra Commando’ by The Chronicle for mustering courage to demolish buildings illegally constructed in the national capital, is now the minister in charge of the internal security of the nation.
He has been re-assigned to the Interior Ministry, replacing Ambrose Dery, who is now a Minister of State at the Office of the President.
The Ayawaso Central Member of Parliament brings a vast experience to the job, as he had served in various capacities, including deputy minister for the Interior and later deputy minister for National Security, before his elevation to administer the Greater Accra Region.
Among others, he would be remembered for relocating onion sellers from Agbogbloshie to Adjen Kotoku in 2021, after issuing a seven-week ultimatum. He moved the unyielding traders from the Agbogbloshie market with finesse.
President Akufo-Addo has also sent the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, from his current portfolio to that of Works and Housing.
With his background as a member of the Inky fraternity, the Ofoase-Ayirebi Member of Parliament had served as a bridge between the government and the media.
He led several reforms in the media, including the setting up of the media monitoring centre for the National Media Commission. Under his tenure, the much-awaited Right to Information law was passed and its implementation has since begun.
When tragedy struck the Volta Region due to the dam spillage, he set up an information centre at the ministry to receive emergency calls from the affected areas for quick response.
The Member of Parliament for Bantama, Francis Asenso Boakye has been moved from Works and Housing to Roads and Highways as the Minister.
NEW ENTRANTS
Prior to her appointment as the minister-designate for Sanitation and Water Resources, Lydia Seyram Alhassan had not served in any ministerial position of the New Patriotic Party administration.
She is currently the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon and the Deputy Majority Chief Whip. She is not the only person who has been given the opportunity to join the Akufo-Addo government at the last moment.
The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei South, Dakoa Newman, is the minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection.
The Member of Parliament for Mfantseman, Ophelia Mensah, is the minister-designate for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
The Old Tafo Legislator, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, is the deputy minister-designate for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.
Member of Parliament for Techiman South, Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, has been announced as the minister-designate for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.
Sylvester Tetteh, MP for Ngleshie-Amanfrom, has been named the deputy minister-designate for Information.
PROMOTION
Until the announcement yesterday, the former Tema East MP, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, who is the minister-designate for the Greater Accra Region, was the Managing Director of VALCO.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, has been asked to move to the health ministry as the substantive minister.
The deputy minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, has been elevated to the position of minister in that ministry.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, submitted to Parliament the list of these new persons in accordance with articles 78, 79, and 256 respectively of the Constitution.
