Ghana President Mahama Reshuffles Cabinet: Ayariga, Agyeman-Rawlings Appointed

• President John Dramani Mahama has reshuffled his cabinet, bringing in two new ministers and reassigning two existing ones.
• The changes are governed by Article 78(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which empowers the president to make such changes as he deems necessary.
• The reshuffle brings the total number of ministers in President Mahama's cabinet to 60, the full complement as per the constitution.
• Lawmakers will need to scrutinize the nominations and consider the impact on existing legislation and policy.

The two new entrants are Bawku MP Mahama Ayariga and Korley Klottey lawmaker Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, who take over as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and minister-designate for the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology respectively.

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has carried out his first ministerial reshuffle since taking office in January 2025. The move brings two new faces into the cabinet, while reassigning two existing ministers to different portfolios. According to Article 78(1) of the 1992 Constitution, the president is empowered to make such changes as he deems necessary.

The two new entrants are Bawku MP Mahama Ayariga and Korley Klottey lawmaker Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings. Ayariga takes over as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, while Agyeman-Rawlings is named minister-designate for the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology. The latter position was previously held by the late Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who died in a helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.

The two ministers reassigned are Kenneth Gilbert Adjei and Ibrahim Ahmed. Adjei moves from Works and Housing to Defence, replacing the late Dr Edward Omane Boamah who also perished in the same helicopter crash.

The ministerial reshuffle is governed by Article 78(1) of the 1992 Constitution. This provision empowers the president to make changes to his cabinet as he deems necessary, subject to parliamentary approval. The constitution does not specify any particular process or timeframe for such changes.

In practice, the president typically communicates ministerial changes through a press statement, which is then subject to parliamentary scrutiny and approval. The current reshuffle brings the total number of ministers in President Mahama's cabinet to 60, the full complement as per the constitution.

Lawyers may be interested in observing how this reshuffle affects existing legislation and policy. The reassignment of ministers could potentially impact various government initiatives and programs, particularly those related to local governance, environment, science, and technology.

The ministerial reshuffle has significant implications for Ghana's governance structure and policy landscape. The changes bring new perspectives and expertise into the cabinet, while also reassigning existing ministers to different portfolios.

Lawmakers should be aware of the potential parliamentary approval processes involved in these changes. They may need to scrutinize the nominations and consider the impact on existing legislation and policy. As the first ministerial reshuffle since President Mahama's inauguration, this development sets a precedent for future cabinet changes.

Lawyers should watch for potential parliamentary approval processes and implications of cabinet reshuffles on existing legislation and policy.

Source: Original reporting via Ghanaian Times