Mahama swears in final deputy ministers to complete 60-member team
President John Dramani Mahama last Thursday swore into office four new deputy ministers of state, completing his 60-member ministerial team as part of his plan to run a leaner government.
The newly appointed deputies are Mrs Dorcas Affo-Toffey, Deputy Minister of Transport; Mr James Gyakye Quayson, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Mr Mohammed Adam Sukparu, Deputy Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation; and Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, Deputy Minister of Health.
President Mahama said the appointments complete the formation of his administration’s executive branch.
He explained that deputies had been assigned only to ministries with heavier workloads and wider oversight duties.
“This is a clear expression of our resolve to establish a new paradigm of lean, purposeful and effective government,” the President said. “From the outset, I made a commitment to restore trust and discipline in public service by building a government that is not bloated but balanced, not extravagant but efficient.”
The President noted that staffing at the Office of the President has been reduced compared to the 336 positions under the previous administration. Savings made from cuts to fuel allocations, travel budgets and other expenses, he said, are being channelled into education, health, infrastructure and energy.
Speaking on behalf of the new deputies, Mr Mohammed Adam Sukparu thanked the President for the appointments and said they would support the government’s reset agenda and help deliver its policies.
