Deputy ministers nominees list reflect Ghana’s demographics – Prof Abotsi

The Dean of the University of Professional Studies, Accra, (UPSA), Prof. Ernest Kofi Abotsi says President Akufo-Addo’s deputy ministerial nominations reflect Ghana’s demographics.

According to him, the list of deputy ministers-designate suggests a deliberate attempt by government to e
ngage a substantial number of young persons in the governance of the country.

Speaking to the host of Joy News’ Newsfile, Samson Lardy Anyenini on Saturday, Prof. Abotsi commended the President for introducing youthful exuberance in his administration.

“It’s clear that the average age seems to be in the region of 30s and probably early forties and so there is a certain conscious attempt in fussing youthful dynamism, in fussing energy into the government and to the governance space. It is imperative for us to understand this because the reality is that our country as a whole has a population which is youthful.”

“Overall our population balances on the side of the youth as opposed to the aged and therefore our leadership must reflect that and I think the President has done a good job in nominating people who reflect the demographic quality of the country.” the law professor indicated.

President Akufo-Addo on April 21, released a list of 39 deputy ministers-designate to 24 ministries to serve in his second term. Out of this number only 10 are females.

As at 2020, Ghana’s demographic profile shows a young age structure, with approximately 65% of the population under the age of 54.

The astute lawyer acknowledged the difficulties successive governments face in ensuring regional balance and representation in their ministerial appointments.

He indicated that the current government attempted in achieving parity in the distribution of appointments.

He further noted the drastic reduction in the size of President Akufo-Addo’s government from 126 ministers and deputy ministers in his first term, to 86.

He added that, “there has been an attempt to reduce government and whenever you attempt to reduce the size of government, what you do is to do a concentrated arrangement of competence so to speak. In other words, you probably have to have one person who must have certain skills, dexterity to be able to perform across sectors.

“If you are concentrating ministries, government agencies that otherwise were formerly split. So that concentration also appears to be reflected in these appointments.”

Prof. Abotsi expressed confidence in the two nominees to the Office of Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah and Diana Asonaba Dapaah, in bringing value to the position led by Godfred Dame.

 

Source: myjoyonline