The Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, has called on Ghanaians, particularly the youth, to appreciate President John Dramani Mahama for prioritizing youth affairs.
Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Opare-Addo stated that while the Youth Ministry may not be directly part of the 19-member Cabinet, it is still well-represented in key decision-making processes.
“We may not have been captured in the 19-member Cabinet, but we have to be appreciative of the President for thinking about the youth,” he stated.
He acknowledged concerns from sections of the public about why the Ministry was left out but assured that decisions concerning the youth would not be made without consultation.
“If you know how Cabinet works, you don’t need to be on that list to make your views heard. The most important thing is that we have ministerial representation, and no decision concerning the youth will be taken without our input,” he explained.
According to him, the Constitution sets the number of ministers who can be part of Cabinet, making it impossible for every ministry to be represented.
“The Constitution mandates a specific number of ministers to form Cabinet. In everything, some elders lead. Not all of us can be in Cabinet, but we should be grateful that we have been recognized and included in decision-making,” he added.
Mr. Opare-Addo also urged his colleagues and the youth to be thankful for the progress made.
“We were not there before, but God has brought us this far. Now, we have a seat at the table, and that is something to appreciate,” he said.
President Mahama recently announced the 19 ministers who will form his Cabinet, in line with Article 76(1) of the 1992 Constitution. The list includes:
- Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
- Minister of the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak
- Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine
- Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu
- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
While the Youth Development and Empowerment Ministry was not included, Mr. Opare-Addo assured the public that youth-related issues would continue to receive the necessary attention.
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