Parliament, after hours of disagreements and a brief suspension, approved the nomination of the six new ministers appointed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Following the approval, all by majority decisions, the Adansi Asokwa MP, K.T Hammond now becomes the Minister of Trade and Industry to be deputized by the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Stephen Amoah.
Also confirmed by the House are the Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong as the Minister of Food and Agriculture and the Member of Parliament for Karaga, Mohammed Amin Adam, as Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.
Stephen Asamoah Boateng is the new Minister for Religious and Chieftaincy Affairs, while Mr. Osei Bonsu Amoah heads to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development as a Minister of State.
They are expected to be sworn into office by the president in the coming days.
After the failure of the Appointments Committee to come to a consensus on the approval of the nominees, Parliament was therefore compelled to vote to decide the fate of the minister-designates.
The Appointments Committee’s report on the nominees was debated in Parliament on Thursday while the voting was done on Friday, March 24, 2023.
How the MPs voted
At the end of voting, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin announced that 272 out of the 275 MPs took part in the exercise.
Three MPs were absent: MP for Dome Kwabenya Sarah Adwoa Safo (NPP), James Gyakye Quayson MP for Assin North (NDC) and Basoah Phillip MP for Kumawu (NPP).
KT Hammond
154 YES votes
116 NO votes
1 rejected ballot
1 abstention
Bryan Acheampong
167 YES votes
98 NO votes
4 rejected ballots
3 abstentions
Asamoah Boateng
147 YES votes
122 NO votes
3 abstentions
Mohammed Amin Adam
152 YES votes
117 NO votes
1 rejected ballot
2 abstentions
OB Amoah
149 YES votes
120 NO votes
3 abstentions
Stephan Amoah
146 YES votes
123 No votes
3 abstentions