The Minority in Parliament has called on President John Dramani Mahama to, with immediate effect, appoint substantive ministers to the Ministries of Defence and Environment following the death of the two former sector ministers in a helicopter crash last year.
Caucus Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the delay in appointing substantive ministers was not the best. He made the call on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday as the House resumed sittings for the ninth session.
Currently, the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, is serving as Acting Minister for Defence, while the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Armah Kofi Buah, is acting as Minister for the Environment.
However, the Minority Leader argued that the Finance Minister, in particular, cannot be Acting Defence Minister considering the workload he has as the substantive Minister in charge of managing the nation’s finances.
“Outside this chamber, the situation is harsher, a nation without two important ministers. It has been months since the tragic helicopter crash took our ministers for defence and environment. Those vital ministries remain without substantive leadership.”
“We demand that Mr President nominate these ministers to mount these ministries,” Mr Afenyo-Markin said.
He added, “It is not enough to have the Minister of Finance with a huge responsibility also taking up the ministry of defence.”
President John Dramani Mahama directed Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to serve as Acting Minister for Defence, while the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Armah Kofi Buah, acts as Minister for the Environment following the death of the two substantive ministers in the crash.
The helicopter was on an official assignment when it went down, resulting in the deaths of all occupants on board.
The victims of the August 2025 helicopter crash included Hon. Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah (Minister for Defence), Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed (Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology), Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed (Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator), Dr. Samuel Sarpong (National Vice Chairman of the NDC), and Mr. Samuel Aboagye (former NDC Parliamentary Candidate).
The flight crew who also tragically perished were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flight Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
