The newly appointed Minister for Inner-Cities and Zongo Development, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has described suggestions that his new portfolio is a demotion as insulting.

Such comments are also offensive to persons from Zongos and inner cities, he told Citi News after visiting the Madina Zongo community.

He described this portfolio as the highest calling of his life.
“I feel that those people insult Inner City and Zongo People and I feel very offended as an inner city person, that when I have had the highest calling of my life to serve my people; inner cities and Zongo people, you would think it is a demotion.”

He also noted that he was elated and unperturbed by the comments of naysayers.

“I am excited about my position. That is all. I don’t know about others but I have told you that I am very excited to serve my people,” Dr. Abdul-Hamid said.

Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid was moved to the Inner-City and Zongo Development Ministry in President Nana Akufo-Addo’s first ministerial reshuffle after being Minister for Information.

Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Member of Parliament for Ofoase/Ayirebi constituency and former Deputy Minister for Information, is now Minister for Information designate.

Below is the list of Ministers who were reassigned

1. John Peter Amewu, former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and acting Minister for Energy, is now Minister for Energy;

2. Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, former Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, is now Minister for Lands and Natural Resources;

3. Hon. Kofi Adda, Member of Parliament for Navrongo constituency and former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, is now Minister for Aviation;

4. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, former Minister for Aviation, is now Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources;

5. Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former Minister for Information, is now Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development;

6. Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Member of Parliament for Ofoase/Ayirebi constituency and former Deputy Minister for Information, is now Minister for Information designate;

7. Hon. Cynthia Morrison, Member of Parliament for Agona West constituency, is now Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection designate;

8. Paulina Tangoba Abayage, former Ambassador to Italy, is now Upper East Regional Minister designate;

9. Hon. Evans Opoku Bobie, Member of Parliament for Asunafo North constituency and former deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, is now Brong Ahafo Regional Minister designate;

10. Hon. Martin Oti Gyarko, Member of Parliament for Techiman North constituency, is now Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister designate;

11. Hon. Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Member of Parliament for Madina constituency and former Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development, is now Minister of State at the Office of the Vice President;

12. Rockson Bukari, former Upper East Regional Minister, is now Minister of State at the Office of the President;

13. Pius Enam Hadzide, former deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, is now Deputy Minister for Information;

14. Perry Curtis Okudzeto, former deputy Minister for Information, is now Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports;

15. Otiko Afisa Djaba, former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, is now Ambassador-designate to Italy but has since opted to retire from politics.