Afeku Axed Out Of Tourism Ministry

Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Madam Catherine Afeku has been moved from the Creative Arts Ministry to the Office of the President as Minister of State.

The announcement by President Akufo-Addo yesterday, February 28, 2019, forms part of his second reshuffle since he was sworn into office in 2017.

In a statement signed by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the Presidency, the new Tourism minister designate is Hon. Barbara Oteng Gyasi, Member of Parliament for Prestea Huni-Valley constituency. She was the former Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. The reshuffle was necessitated by the recent creation of six new regions.

According to the statement, President Akufo-Addo is hopeful that Parliament will expedite the vetting of the Minister-designate for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the Regional Minister designate for Upper West, as well as the deputy Ministers-designate for Aviation, Lands and Natural Resources, and Health so they can assume their respective offices as quickly as possible.

Madam Catherine Afeku was appointed Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture on January 12, 2017.

Since then, almost every member in the Arts sector had great expectations from her, but many stakeholders later complained about government’s inability to fulfill its campaign promises for the industry.