Politics

ACCRA (Reuters) - Ghana's main opposition party and radio phone-in callers slammed new President Nana Akufo-Addo on Thursday for naming an 'elephant size' team of 110 ministers and deputies despite a campaign promise to cut government waste.

Akufo-Addo named 50 deputy ministers and four ministers of state on Wednesday in addition to 56 ministers and deputies previously announced. It is the largest government since the West African country adopted a democratic constitution in 1992.

Accra, March 15, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has released a list of 54 nominated persons, including Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo, Deputy Majority Leader to serve as Ministers of State.

He also nominated Professor Kwesi Yankah, President of the Central University College, to serve as Minister of State and the rest as Deputy Ministers in Government.

Accordingly, the president has forwarded 54 names to Parliament for vetting and approval for the various ministries.

Accra, March 15, GNA- President Nana Akufo-Addo on Wednesday named four personalities to serve as ministers of state at the presidency and 50 others to deputise at the various ministries.

In a communication from the Office of the President addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, President Akufo-Addo pressed the House to approve the nominees.

Civil Society Organisation, SEND Ghana has faulted the government over its inability to clearly state its targets for social protections issues, especially child protection and welfare in the 2017 budget.

The group explained that although expenditure allocation to the sector Ministry - the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection- increased by about 416 per cent over the 2016 figure, the absence of a programme budget for the ministry would make it difficult to assess the proportion that goes into child rights promotion and protection.

Just days after Ghana celebrated its 60th independence anniversary, newly elected president Nana Akufo -Addo has come under fire for running what is termed as an “elephant size” government.

The government has defended itself against the accusation this after new appointments announced on Wednesday, brought the number of ministers and deputy ministers to 110.

Minority leader in parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, came out guns blazing saying that the cabinet will feed on the public purse.

Ho, March 14, GNA - A Ho High Court presided over by Justice Nicholas Charles Agbevor on Tuesday adjourned the treason case involving leaders of the Homeland Study Group Foundation, a secessionist group in the Volta Region to April 11.

Mr Moses Asampoa, the State Attorney said considering the seriousness of the case, one week was too short to conclude investigations and prayed the court for a date for the police to complete investigations for an informed decision.

The Ghana Economic Outlook and Business Strategy (EOBS) conference is scheduled to take place on March 22 this year. The annual event will be held on the theme: “Unlocking Ghana's Economic Potential with Mobile Money and Payment System,” by the Africa Business Media (ABM) and supported by dozens of corporate institutions.

It is aimed at exploring ideas and suggestions from both the government and private sector to address Ghana’s mobile money, financial inclusion and electronic payment system as part of efforts to promote and sustain the growth of the Ghanaian financial system.

Accra, March 10, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Friday nominated four personalities for appointment as metropolitan chief executives.

They are Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, Accra Metroplitian Assembly, Mr Idrrisu Musah, Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, Mr Anthony K.K. Sam, Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, and Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.

Their appointment is subject to the approval of their respective assemblies, a statement issued from the Office of the President, said.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has described as “expected” the controversy generated by his 60th-anniversary speech delivered Monday.

He argued a political figure who does not incite debates with his actions or speeches is an uninteresting one.

“Everything I say...ended up in controversy but that’s how it should be,” he told a gathering at the Ghana Unity Ball on Thursday.

Theresa May could trigger article 50, the formal process for leaving the European Union, as early as Tuesday if the Brexit bill passes late on Monday, government sources say.

The legislation, which passed through the House of Commons unamended, is due to be debated by MPs on Monday. They will have to decide whether to accept a pair of amendments added by peers – on the rights of European Union citizens and granting parliament a meaningful vote at the end of the process.