The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed their excitement on the renomination of Mr. Alan Kyerematen as Minister for Trade and Industry by President Akufo-Addo.
Speaking in an interview, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Mark Badu Aboagye, assured the designated Trade Minister of the Chamber’s commitment and support to work collaboratively with him.
He further recounted the various issues resolved under Mr. Kyerematen’s stay in office due to great understanding of private sector issues.
“We have worked with him for a very long time and his open door policy- he’s always ready to listen to us [and] together and collectively [we] have resolved a number of issues.
“Some of the policies he has introduced, especially the business enabling program which sought to improve the business environment has really helped the private sector and also the regulatory reforms which to improve the regulations that affects the private sector in Ghana; for me they are all exceptional.
“On behalf of the council of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and also on behalf of the entire private sector, we want to say a big thank you to His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa for retaining Honorable Alan Kojo Kyerematen”.
As a goodwill gesture, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), also extended its congratulation to the designated Trade Minister lauding his performance.
According to the CEO of the Association, Dr. Joseph Obeng, he noted that Mr. Alan Kyerematen is the apt man for the job especially with the commencement of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Alan Kyerematen is among the best and most effective trade ministers that we have worked with as trade leaders, and we admire him. We are happy he was retained by the President for the good works that he has done to be continued. We will want to work with him because he listens to us at all times. He is well versed in with trade issues, and we need him around especially with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area that has just started. We need him around to push this African dream through”.
President Akufo-Addo on January 21, 2020, submitted to Parliament the approval of designated Ministers via the Speaker of the House, Alban Bagbin.
Per the country’s presidential transition laws, the President announced a list of nominations of ministers who will be vetted and approved by parliament before their appointment as he commences his second term of office.
The list of names for appointment as Ministers in his new government included names of some 46 persons who are expected to fill the ministerial positions and support the President to fulfil his mandate in the next four years.
Ahead of this official statement, the Head of Communications, at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin issued a communique indicating that the total number of Ministers to be appointed by President in his second term will not exceed 85.
This abridged number contradicts the 126 ministerial appointments that characterized President Akufo-Addo in his first term in office.
