Parliament approves Okoe Boye as deputy health minister

In a widely expected move, parliament has approved the nomination of Dr Bernard Okoe Boye as a deputy health minister.

The approval comes after the Appointments Committee headed by Joe Osei Owusu, presented its report on the floor of Parliament on Friday.

Both members from the Majority and Minority backed the committee’s recommendation to approve the nominee.

Making contributions on the floor of Parliament ahead of the approval, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa wished him well.

“He is going to the Health Ministry at a defining moment in history. The entire nation is looking forward to the young doctor helping the nation find a solution to the current crisis. We can only wish Dr Okoe Boye well,” he said.

Adding his voice, the Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea explained that;

“There is an impression that Dr Okoe Boye is a Covid-19 Minister, it is not so. He is being nominated as a Deputy Health Minister and we shouldn’t be fixated with the whole issue of Covid-19.

“I want that impression corrected. I have no doubt that he will serve in that position very well,” he added.

Speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Ocquaye congratulated Dr Okoe Boye after the House approved his appointment.

Dr Bernard Okoe Boye was nominated by President Akufo-Addo as a Deputy Minister for Health-designate on April 6, 2020.

The Deputy Minister-designate was vetted on Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

During his vetting, he said as a Deputy Minister, he would work with his superiors to ensure the harmonization of energies and competencies to defeat the coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to his nomination, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye was the Board Chairman of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

He is a Member of Parliament for the Ledzokuku Constituency in the Greater Accra Region.