Lands Minister to have cabinet oversight responsibility over 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 over the Energy Ministry.

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

Following his unveiling, Dr. Opoku-Prempeh is set to resign from his position as Minister for Energy to focus on campaigning ahead of the upcoming elections.

A statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr. Eugene Arhin, on Thursday, 11th July 2024, said the President had accepted the resignation of Dr. Opoku-Prempeh as Energy Minister, effective from 18th July 2024.

The statement also said the President has asked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, to take Cabinet oversight responsibility over the Ministry of Energy, while the Minister of State designate for the Ministry of Energy, Hon. Herbert Krampah, will be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Ministry.

Mr. Jinapor’s oversight responsibility over 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. It will be recalled that following the resignation of the former Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. John Allan Kwadwo Kyerematen, the President on 13th January 2023 appointed Mr. Jinapor as the caretaker Minister for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, a position he held for three months until Hon. K.T. Hammond was sworn in as Minister for Trade in April 2023.

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