I Was The Least Expected Candidate – John Kumah Speaks On His Deputy Ministerial Appointment

Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme [NEIP], John Kumah says upon hearing the news of his nomination as Deputy Minister-designate for Finance he was overwhelmed because he thought of himself as the least among many.

According to him, the news caught him off guard not because he sees himself as incompetent but because he assumed there were more competent and older people President Akufo-Addo could have chosen to occupy the said portfolio.

“I was also surprised when his Excellency told me he was taking me to the Finance Ministry, so I do not begrudge anybody who was surprised. First of all, I wasn’t the best-expected candidate to occupy that position.”

Furthering on that, the Member of Parliament for the Ejisu Constituency disclosed that it was later that “His excellency [President Akufo-Addo] told me he was impressed with the work I did with NEIP and he is trusting I go and deliver the same way at the Ministry of Finance.”

Speaking to JoyNews’ Evan Mensah, the legislator, however, cautioned that although many people know him to be a lawyer, he has a very solid foundation in finance and hence must not be mistaken as one occupying an office he knows nothing about.

“I have a good background in finance. I did Economics as my first degree, Economics with Philosophy, before I also went to do MBA in Finance… before I even started Law.

He expressed gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for “repositing such confidence” in him, adding that he accepts the new challenge with all humility.

“I am so happy about it, it is a challenge that I believe I will make him proud and make the nation proud. I think I have enough competence to deliver in the Finance Ministry as well, I thank his Excellency for the opportunity”, he said.

The Deputy Minister-designate for Finance, if approved will assist Ken Ofori-Atta to execute the mandate of His Execellency the President in his second term.

The mandate of President Akufo-Addo, John Kumah said, is to achieve the Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda.

That notwithstanding, the legislator said although he awaits a full break down of expectations that he must meet in working with Mr Ken Ofori Atta, he looks forward to working together with the Ministry’s team while putting his best foot forward each step of the way.

“In terms of the specifics, I am yet to be given specific areas of assignments but I am ready to support the team; the competent team at the Finance Ministry led by the Honorable Ken Ofori Atta.

I am going with the attitude to learn quickly on the job, with the humility to serve and incorporate myself into the team that is there and begin to work to prove the trust and confidence that the President has in me.”