By Peter Agengre
President John Dramani Mahama has so far nominated a total of 42 ministers, including seven women and 24 members of Parliament (MPs).
Missing in the above list is the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central Constituency in the Upper East Region, Hon. Isaac Adongo, a firm critic of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the last administration.
Hon. Adongo was also a member of the economic management team of the NDC in when they were in opposition. But in a consolation message to his constituents in the Upper East Region, the Regional Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Jonathan Salifu Abdallah, believes that Hon. Adongo is a reserved team member for the NDC.
“The party has a very strong reserve team, which Hon. Isaac Adongo and the rest of the MPs are included. And you know what the reserve players in a football team do. They come in to improve the game when necessary. So I can assure the people of the Upper East Region that they would be given their place when there is a reshuffle,” Mr. Abdallah hinted.
“When you look at the appointments so far, President Mahama is trying to stay within the 60 ministers as promised Ghanaians. And all the people appointed so far have the capacity to deliver. Mind you, the NDC has the men and they will not disappoint Ghanaians,” he insisted.
On January 16, 2025, President Mahama submitted the names of nine additional nominees for various portfolios to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, for vetting and subsequent approval. He again unveiled the third batch of his ministerial nominees on January 21, 2025. His 16 Regional Ministers-designate are yet to appear before the vetting committee.
To the communications officer, “All the other MPs, including former MPs, are very useful, and I am confident that President John Mahama will find them serving in various capacities of his government. I am sure that some of the MPs from the region will serve as deputy ministers in his next announcement,” Mr. Abdallah made these sentiments during the magazine programme dubbed “Ripples” on GBC URA Radio in Bolgatanga.
