Aug 03, 2012 at 6:07am

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Hanna Tetteh, has thrown her weight behind the Vice President-designate Mr. Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, despite opposition from factions of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The Trade Minister was highly tipped to succeed then Vice President John Dramani Mahama, who is now the leader of the country following the death of President John Evans Atta Mills last week.

Mr. Mahama settled on the Governor of the Bank of Ghana as his vice presidential nominee due for vetting on August 6 by the Appointments Committee of Parliament. This has not gone down well with NDC stalwarts such as Eastern Regional Minister, Victor Smith, who told Citi News the economists cannot “bring votes to the table” for the party come the December elections.

Conversely, Hon. Tetteh feels President Mahama “has made a very good choice in nominating the Governor of the Bank of Ghana.”

She said in a statement: “I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Amissah Arthur for a number of years now and I can say with confidence that he is competent, knowledgeable, experienced and a fine gentleman.

“He was a great friend of His Excellency the late President John Evans Atta Mills, and his commitment to the National Democratic Congress is unequivocal. I will always be loyal and steadfast in my support to His Excellency the President, our new Vice-President and the National Democratic Congress and look forward to working with His Excellency the President and the new Vice President to continue to develop our country and improve the lives of our people.”

She called on all party members to come together in order to ensure total victory for the NDC after the elections.

“This is the time for the National Democratic Congress to rally around our new President and support him to ensure that we continue to work and fulfill the desire of our late President - His Excellency President Mills to build a Better Ghana for the people of our country.

“May the Soul of our late President rest in peace and may those of us left behind work assiduously to achieve his vision. May our Government achieve our goals of improving the lives of the people of this country, that is why we have been elected, and that is the work we must do,” Hon. Tetteh said.



By Kent Mensah/Citifmonline.com/Ghana