Ghana’s 1992 Constitution requires that with the approval of Parliament, the President should assign Regional Ministers for each of the sixteen (16) regions.
As representatives of the President, the Regional Ministers are responsible for overseeing the coordination and direction of the administration of their respective regions.
In constituting his cabinet and Regional Ministers for his second term in office, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed sixteen (16) Regional Ministers who were on March 12, 2021, unanimously approved by Parliament as recommended by the Appointments Committee of the House. They were subsequently sworn-in by the President.
They are Henry Quartey, Greater Accra, Mr. Seth Kwame Acheampong, Eastern, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Western, Mr. Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern, Mr. Joshua Gmayenaam Makubu, Oti, Mr. Saeed Muhazu Jibril, Savannah, and Mr. Stephen Yakubu, Upper East.
The rest are Mr. George Boakye, Ahafo, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, Ashanti, Ms. Justina Owusu, Banahene-Bono, Mr. Kwasi Adu-Gyan, Bono East, Justina Marigold Assan, Central, Mr. Yidana Zakaria, North East; Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, Upper West, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta, and Mr. Richard Obeng, Western North.
SURVEY
Gina Media Consult conducted a survey between October 2021 and September 2022 to ascertain the Regional Ministers performance. Respondents for the survey included Teachers, Media, Traditional Leaders, Social Commentators, Youth Groups, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Politicians, Clergy, Assembly members, Students, Traders, Farmers, and Commercial Drivers.
DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
The sample size was 8000 and, in each region, a total of 500 respondents were interviewed one on one. Eighty (80) percent of the respondents were between the ages of 18 and 70. The respondents were randomly selected nationwide.
The measuring tool focused on the Regional Ministers’ administrative expertise, their accessibility, punctuality at public events, relationship with traditional leaders, relationship with development partners, relationship with NPP regional and constituency executives as well as other political parties and their relationship with the media.
RATINGS
In the phase of the public opinion, the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa emerged as the “Overall Best,” while the Savannah Regional Minister, Mr. Saeed Muhazu Jibril, appeared as the “Worst Regional Minister” during the period under study.
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa occupied the 1st position with 75.8 percentage of the overall total score, followed by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey 2nd with 73.8 percent, Central Regional Minister, Ms. Justina Marigold Assan, 3rd with 71.6 percent, Mr. Seth Acheampong, Eastern, 4th with 68.4 percent, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, Western, 5th with 66.7 percent, Mr. George Boakye, Ahafo 6th with 64.4 percent.
Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, Ashanti, was placed 7th with 62.8 percent, Ms. Justina Owusu-Banahene, Bono, 8th with 58.7 percent, Mr. Adu Gyan, Bono East, 9th with 56.5 percent, Mr. Yidana Zakaria-North East; 10th with 55.9 percent, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih-Upper West, 11th with, 53.3 percent, Mr. Richard Obeng, Western North, 12th with 50.7 percent, Mr. Joshua Makubu, Oti 13th with 50.7 percent, Mr. Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern, 14th with 48.5 percent, Mr. Stephen Yakubu, Upper East, 15th 48.1 percent, and Mr. Saeed Muhazu Jibril Savannah, 16th with 47.1 percent.
COMMENDATIONS
The respondents commended the Volta Regional Coordinating Council led by Dr Archibald Yao for supervising and monitoring development projects in transforming the lives of the people there. He was also credited for operating an open-door administration, connecting with traditional leaders, development partners, other political parties leadership, the media and being punctual at public events.
On the other hand, the Savannah Regional Minister, Mr. Saeed Muhazu Jibril fell short of the benchmark used for the assessments.
He was accused of bad interpersonal relationship, lacking focus, poor relationships with the media, poor relationships with political leaders in the region, and not being accessible.
CONCLUSION/EXPECTATIONS
The respondents expected more from the Regional Ministers given the fact that President Nana Addo in his second term abandoned the principle of appointing Deputy Regional Ministers. The Respondents urged President Nana Addo to change the nonperforming Regional Ministers.
