Zanetor Rawlings, Grace Ayensu and Titus Beyou: The headache facing President Mahama in deputy health minister role

Although some of the 10 ministries will not get deputy ministerial appointments due to President Mahama’s promise to work with a total of 60 substantive and deputy ministers, one ministry that will most certainly get a deputy is the Ministry of Health due to the enormity of the work in that sector.

Choosing a deputy minister for the ministry is also likely to be an uphill task for the president because of the quality and pedigree of persons reportedly under consideration.

Three people who are likely to be considered for this role are the Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan, Prof Grace Ayensu-Danquah, and the Member of Parliament for Lambussie, Prof Titus Kofi Beyuo.

As if they were making their case to the president, the three MPs, who are all medical doctors, recently made moving statements on health issues in the country on the floor of Parliament.

Below are details of the three potential deputy health ministers:

Dr. Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings:

Dr. Agyemang-Rawlings has been the Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle since 2016, serving in the 7th, 8th, and now 9th parliaments.

She holds an LRCP and SI MB BCh BAO from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; an executive master’s in conflict, peace and security from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre; a certificate in defence management from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College; and a certificate in women, peace and security from the London School of Economics and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.

Dr. Agyemang-Rawlings is a Christian. She hails from Dzelukope in the Volta Region and was born on June 1, 1978.

The MP, a daughter of the founder of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the late Jerry John Rawlings, is likely to get an appointment under the John Mahama government because of the role she played in the campaign, including delivering an electrifying speech at the NDC national campaign launch in Tamale.

Prof Grace Ayensu-Danquah:

Prof Grace Ayensu-Danquah is a first-time Member of Parliament.

She holds a doctorate in medicine from the University of Wisconsin, USA; a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California; a Master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University; a doctorate in surgery from Providence Hospital; and a Surgical Sub-Specialty from the University of California San Diego.

She previously worked as the Country Director of Project Hope, the Clinical Director of Sage Medical Centre, and a Professor of Surgery at the University of Utah, USA.

Prof Ayensu-Danquah, who hails from Essikado in the Western Region, was born on May 10, 1967. She is a Christian.

She is likely to play a role in the Mahama government because the president himself hinted at giving her a role should he win the election at a campaign event in Essikado.

Prof Titus Kofi Beyuo:

Prof Titus Kofi Beyuo is also a first-time Member of Parliament.

He holds a certificate (HAM) from the Ghana Institute of Public Administration and Management (GIMPA); a Master of Philosophy from the University of Ghana; a Bachelor of Medicine and Science (MBChB) from the University of Ghana; and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) from the University of Ghana.

He previously worked as an associate professor at the University of Ghana Medical School; a specialist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital; an adjunct lecturer at the University of Health and Allied Sciences; and the General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association.

Prof Beyuo, who was born on September 14, 1981, is a Christian. He hails from Kucha in the Upper West Region.