Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Ethiopia Gets 20 Ministries: Few newcomers and fewer women still!


Meles Appoints Twenty Ministers

E-mailPrintPDF
BY NEW BUSINESS ETHIOPIA REPORTER
Prime Minister Meles Zernawi, who sworn in yesterday to lead Ethiopia for the coming five years appointed twenty ministers today (October 5, 2010).
The House of Peoples Representative approved all his nominees during its second day meeting this morning. For the first time, the ruling party, Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has included one minister who doesn’t belong to any political party.

Mekonnen Manyazewal, who has been serving as senior economist at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and finally reached the state Minister level, has now appointed by Meles to replace the current Trade and Industry Minster, Girma Biru. “…Mekonnen will be the only person in the cabinet who doesn’t belong to any political party,” said Meles.

The existing Ministry of Trade and Industry is split in to two ministries and Mekonen has become the Minister of Trade, while Abdurahman Sheik Ahmed of the Somali Peoples Democratic Party, which is one of the four member party of EPRDF is appointed as the Ministry of Trade.

Out of the twenty ministry organizations, the powers and duties of about ten ministries are redefined by the new law tabled to the parliament and approved this morning. This includes merging women, children and youth affairs in one ministry called Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs.

The energy sector is also split from the Ministry of Mines and Energy and merged with the newly established Ministry of Water and Energy, which is set to be led by former Minister of Mines and Energy Alemayehu Tegenu. Sinkinesh Ejigu, who was the former State Minister of Mines and Energy on her part, is now appointed to serve as Minister for the newly established of Ministry of Mines.

The former Addis Ababa city Administration Head, Mekuria Haile is also appointed as minister for the newly established Ministry of Urban Development and Construction. 

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is also divided in to two ministries and Minister of Transport becomes one ministry to be led by Diriba Kuma, who was also the minister before the organization split.

Communications sector is merged with information technology forming Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, which will be led by the former Director of Information Communication Technology Development Agency Director, Debretsion Gebre Mariam.

Junedin Sado, who was Minister of Science and Technology, is now appointed by the Prime Minister Meles as Minister of Civil Service, which is established to fully replace the former Ministry of Capacity Building. 
Desse Dalke, former Administrator Sidama Zone has now takes over the previous position of Junedin and became Minister of Science and Technology.

Hailemariam Desalegn, who is also appointed as Deputy Chairman of EPRDF, is now became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs replacing Seyoum Mesfin.

Mohamed Dirrir the Minister of Culture and Tourism is now replaced by Amin Abdulkadir who also came from Somali Region. Abdulfeta Abdoulahi Hassen from the Somali Region is also appointed as Minister for Labor and Social Affairs.

Ministers for four ministries: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development are given green light by Meles to continue with their existing ministers. 

In addition to the twenty ministers, Meles also appointed former Minister of Youth and Sport Aster Mamo, is appointed as Representative of government at the Parliament. In addition, Bereket Simon- Government Communications Affairs Head and Melaku Fenta-Director of Revenue and Customs Authority are also allowed to continue in their current responsibilities and become members of the Cabinet

No comments: