<<Print>>

The absence of former ministers from the Western Region in the initial list of ministers nominated by President John Dramani Mahama has sent shock waves among some National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters in the region. These supporters claim that since the Western Region made significant contributions to the NDC in the last two general elections, they expect, what one of them described as, a �reasonable representation of indigenes of the region in President Mahama�s government.� So far only one individual from the Western Region has been nominated Minster in the President�s list of nominees sent to Parliament. Mr. Akwesi Oppong-Fosu, the Member of Parliament-elect for the Amenfi East Constituency in the Western Region, has been named as Local Government Minister designate, a position many have described as appropriate because of his vast experience in local governance. Since the release of election results last month, expectation has been high among NDC stakeholders in the region that an adequate number of party heavyweights in the region would gain key Cabinet positions in the new government. �Some of the party bigwigs indicated the positions they might occupy in the Mahama government,� an NDC sympathizer confided in The Finder. According to this source, it was especially the absence of former ministers from the region which proved baffling. Former indigenes from the region who had occupied ministerial positions under the Mills administration include the former Minister of Health, Dr. George Sipa Adjah Yankey, who later became the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Gas Company; Mr. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, former deputy Minister of Energy; Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, who was the Regional Minister; Emelia Arthur, District Chief Executive for Shama and later deputy Western Regional Minister; and Mr. John Gyetuah, who served as Minister of Trade and later Minister of State at the seat of government. One position that is certain to remain with the region is the position of the regional minster, which has attracted the attention of lobbyists who believe that the Member of Parliament for Sefwi-Wiawso, Paul Evans Aidoo, would be moved to occupy another position in government.