In a formal ceremony held at the Ministry of Works and Housing (MWH) on Tuesday, February 20th, 2024, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah gracefully assumed the role of Minister, succeeding former Minister Francis Asenso-Boakye. The transition of leadership was marked by expressions of gratitude and a commitment to continue the Ministry's mission of serving the nation in crucial areas of infrastructure and housing development.
During the ceremony, outgoing Minister Francis Asenso-Boakye commended the dedicated staff and management of the Ministry for their unwavering support during his tenure. He said despite facing challenges such as underfunding exacerbated by the economic impact of Covid-19, the staff worked tirelessly to make sure the Ministry achieved its mandate during his tenure as Minister.
In his remarks, incoming Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah commended Mr. Asenso-Boakye and the Ministry staff for their remarkable achievements despite the economic challenges. He outlined three main focus areas for his tenure, as tasked by President Akufo-Addo.
He said the President has tasked him to focus on the drenching of gutters to address the perennial issue of flooding in flood-prone areas of the country. He said this has become crucial as the raining season is fast approaching.
Another area of focus according to the Minister is urban and rural housing, particularly focusing on areas around the Agenda 111 hospital projects. He said the rationale behind this is to fast-track development around these areas ahead of the commissioning of the hospitals by the President later this year.
He said the President has also tasked him to focus on the Sea Defense Projects across the country to mitigate coastal erosion and protect coastal communities.
This, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah pledged to build upon the successes of his predecessor and serve the nation diligently. He assured staff of his commitment to keep the 'ship' of the sector afloat and believes continuous dedication of Managment including Heads of Departments and Agencies under the Ministry will be key to successfully deliver the mandate of the President.
