President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo expressed surprise at the Minority’s walkout during the consideration and approval of the new ministers. He described their action as a ‘pity’ and thanked God that it did not affect the vote of approval.
The Minority in Parliament staged a boycott of the approval of the new ministers, with Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson questioning the urgency of the approval process. He raised concerns about the government already having a large number of ministers and deputy ministers.
During the walkout, some opposition lawmakers were heard saying “Ghanaians are suffering,” while Dr Cassiel Ato Forson emphasized to the Majority side that “If you don’t care, we care.”
The approved ministers include Health Hon. Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye; Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ophelia Mensah Hayford; Information Ms. Fatimatu Abubakar; Gender; Children and Social Protection Dakoa Newman; Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah; Sanitation and Water Resources Hon. Lydia Seyram Alhassan; Tourism, Arts and Culture Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer, MP, among others.
Parliament also approved a loan facility of $150 million from the World Bank for the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project, despite objections from the Minority. After a disputed voice vote, the majority MPs won the vote on the loan, with 137 NPP MPs in favor and 132 NDC MPs against.
The Minority Leader had raised concerns about the misapplication of a previous loan and the granting of questionable tax waivers, questioning the urgency of the loan approval at the expense of more pressing matters.
