President appoints Samuel Jinapor to oversee Energy Ministry

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has designated the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency,  Samuel A. Jinapor, to have Cabinet oversight responsibility of the Energy Ministry. 

This follows the resignation of the Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who has been named running mate to the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

On Tuesday,  July 9, 2024, Dr Opoku Prempeh was outdoored at a durbar in Kumasi

Following his unveiling, Dr Opoku Prempeh had to resign from his position as Minister of Energy to focus on working with Dr Bawumia on securing a win in the general election in December this year.

A statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, last night, said the President had accepted the resignation of Dr Opoku Prempeh as Energy Minister with immediate effect.

The statement also said the President had asked Mr Jinapor to have Cabinet oversight responsibility of the Ministry of Energy, while the Minister of State designate for the Ministry of Energy, Herbert Krampah will be responsible for the day to day administration of the Ministry.

Mr Jinapor’s oversight responsibility of the ministry will be in addition to his substantive role as the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources.

This is the third time the President has given Mr Jinapor additional responsibilities over other ministries. Following the resignation of the former Minister of  Trade and Industry,   Alan   Kyerematen, the President on  January 13, 2023, appointed Mr Jinapor as the caretaker Minister for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, a position he held for three  months until  K.T. Hammond was sworn in as substantive Minister of Trade in April, 2023

Again, following the ministerial reshuffle in February this year, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister was again designated caretaker minister for the Ministry of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation, pending the approval of Parliament of the then Minister-designate, Ophelia Mensah Hayford.  

During his time at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Jinapor championed some critical policy matters, including a Policy on Consumer Protection.  

As Minister with Cabinet oversight responsibility over the Energy Ministry, Mr Jinapor will be required to deal with some pressing energy matters, including the power situation in the country, the intermittent lights out, and crude oil production, which has been on the decline since 2019, according to the Public Interest and Accountability Committee’s 2023 Report.