Accra, Feb. 17, GNA - Parliament on Tuesday approved the nomination of 13 Ministers of State, including Ms Hannah Tetteh, nominee for the Trade and Industry Ministry.

The others were: Lieutenant General Joseph Smith, Minister of Defence, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu for the Communications Ministry and Mr Muntaka Mubarak, Minister of Youth and Sports.

Nine nominees for the regions were: Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern region, Mr Kofi Opoko-Manu, Ashanti region, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Central region and Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Brong Ahafo region. The rest were: Mr Mahmud Khalid, Upper West region, Nii Armah Ashietey, Greater Accra region, Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta region, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo Western region and Mr Stephen Sumani Nayina, Northern region.

Ms Tetteh's approval was held up until she had produced a document from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) relating to the payment of her taxes.

There were initial questions over whether she had complied with the Appointments' Committee recommendations to reconcile her taxes related to her tenure as a member of Parliament and her work at the Ghana Agro Food Company where she worked concurrently between 2001 and 2005. Ms Tetteh was able to pass the test and produced a document from the IRS minutes before the House decided on her fate and gave approval to the 13 nominees including her nomination.