President Akufo-Addo has appointed Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor as the caretaker minister for Trade and Industry with effect from Monday, January 16, 2023.
This is coming on the back of the resignation of the sector minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen who has been in charge of the cabinet Ministry since 2017.
A communique from the presidency last week signed by the Director of Communication had it that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had offered the caretaker responsibility to Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister, in addition to his primary responsibilities at the Finance Ministry until a new release from the presidency yesterday is now directing the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor.
The President last week (Jan 5, 2023) had accepted the resignation letter of Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen and in an earlier statement while accepting his resignation thanked him and wished him well in his future endeavours also tasked the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to act as the caretaker Minister for the Ministry.
According to the statement by the presidency yesterday (January 13, 2023) the Member of Parliament for the Damongo Constituency is to take care of Trade and Industry in addition to his normal responsibilities as Minister of Lands and Natural Resources with effect from Monday, which happens to be Mr Kyerematen’s last day in office, pending the appointment of a substantive minister to replace the New Patriotic Party flagbearer aspirant, Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen.
It is still not clear what has necessitated this new development which has seen the earlier appointment of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta as caretaker minister for the orphan Trade and Industry Ministry rescinded just a few days after the announcement.
However, it has been made known that the outgoing Trade Minister is now going to focus more attention on his presidential ambition and pursuit hoping to be elected as flagbearer later in the year to lead the party, take over from President Akufo-Addo as presidential candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Election 2024 and ultimately become the next president of the land.
