I’ll not appoint deputy ministers for some ministries – President Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has said he will not appoint deputy ministers for some ministries.

This, he said is to enable him to appoint a total of 60 ministers as he promised in his election campaign.

He said this when he swore into office six ministers on Wednesday afternoon.

President Mahama said the decision not to appoint deputy ministers for some ministries was to help him keep to the promise of not appointing more than 60 ministers.

The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Jubilee House, marked the commencement of their roles in key government positions, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to addressing critical national issues.

The appointees, part of the first batch of ministerial nominees approved by Parliament, include:

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson as Minister for Finance
Dr Dominic Ayine as Attorney General
John Jinapor as Minister for Energy and Green Transition
Haruna Iddrisu as Minister for Education
Eric Opoku as Minister for Food and Agriculture
Governs Kwame Agbodza as Minister for Roads and Highways

The swearing-in followed Parliamentary approval for their respective roles.

President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday nominated 17 additional ministers for the consideration of Parliament for appointment as ministers in his administration.

The list of 17 is made up of three regional ministers which brings the total number of regional ministerial nominees to 16.

President Mahama has committed to maintaining a lean government with only 60 ministers, even as thousands of hopeful candidates have submitted their CVs for consideration.

The nominations announced on Tuesday bring the total number of ministerial nominees by President Mahama to 42 as of now.

He has not nominated any deputy ministers as of now.

The list of 42 includes: seven women. Five of the seven women are Members of Parliament.

The total number of members of Parliament on the list is 24.

The 1992 Constitution States that the Majority of ministerial appointments shall be from Parliament.

Reduction of Ministries from 29 to 23 in Civil Service Restructuring

President Mahama two days after taking office, on January 9, 2025, announced a reduction in the number of government ministries, cutting them from 29 to 23, as part of an administrative restructuring initiative aimed at enhancing efficiency and streamlining government operations.

The re-organisation was formalised through the Civil Service (Ministries) Instrument, 2025 (E.I. 1), signed by President Mahama on January 9, 2025.

The Executive Instrument outlined the newly established ministries and revoked the previous arrangement under the Civil Service (Ministries) Instrument, 2021 (E.I. 12).

The instrument was made in exercise of the power conferred on the President under section 11(3) of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (P.N.D.C.L. 327).

3 ministers of state for new responsibilities

President Mahama per the list announced on Tuesday has introduced three new responsibilities by nominating three ministers for Special Initiatives, Government Communications and Climate Change and Sustainability

President Mahama in the new arrangement revoked the following ministries including Information.

Information
National Security
Parliamentary Affairs
Railway Development
Sanitation and Water Resources
Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs [Has been added to Local Government]
Public Enterprises

Per the list of nominees announced on Tuesday, President Mahama named Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum (MP) as a Minister of State in Charge of Special Initiatives, Felix Kwakye Ofosu (MP) in charge of Government Communications and Issifu Seidu (MP) as a Minister of State in charge of Climate Change and Sustainability.

See list of President Mahama’s 42 ministerial nominees as of now, made up of 7 women and 24 MPs

Third batch of nominations

Dr Edward Omane Boamah – Defence
Samuel Nartey George (MP) – Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP) – Lands and Natural Resources
Kofi Iddie Adams (MP) – Sports and Recreation
Abdul-Rashid H. Pelpuo (MP) – Labour, Jobs and Employment
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (MP) – Health
Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed (MP) – Environment, Science and Technology
Joseph Bukari Nikpe (MP) – Transport
Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak (MP) – Interior
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP) – Foreign Affairs
Adjei Kenneth Gilbert – Works, Housing and Water Resources
Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum (MP) – Minister of State in Charge of Special Initiatives
Felix Kwakye Ofosu (MP) – Government Communications
Issifu Seidu (MP) – Minister of State, Climate Change and Sustainability
Second batch of nominations

Kwame Governs Agbodza (MP) – Roads and Highways
Eric Opoku (MP) – Food and Agriculture
Agnes Naa Momo Lartey (MP) – Gender, Children and Social Protection
Abla Dzifa Gomashie (MP) – Tourism Culture and Creative Arts
Emelia Arthur (MP) – Fisheries and Aquaculture
George Opare-Addo – Youth and Empowerment
Haruna Iddrisu (MP) – Education
Ahmed Ibrahim (MP) – Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs
Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare (MP) – Trade, Agribusiness and Industry
First batch 

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson (MP) – Finance
John Abdulai Jinapor (MP) – Energy and Green Transition
Dominic Akuritinga Ayine (MP) – Attorney-General and Minister of Justice
Regional Ministers

Puozuing Charles Lwanga – Upper West
Joseph Addae Akwaboa – Bono
Francis Owusu Antwi – Bono East
Wilbert Petty Brentum – Western North
Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere – Central
Joseph Nelson – Western
Ali Adolf John – Northern
John Kwadwo Gyapong – Oti
James Gunu – Volta
Mrs Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey – Eastern
Ibrahim Tia – North East
Dr Frank Amoakohene – Ashanti
Akamugri Donatus Atanga – Upper East
Charity Gardiner – Ahafo
Salisu Be-Awuribe – Savannah
Linda Ocloo (MP) – Greater Accra

In the new arrangement, President Mahama has created a new ministry for Youth Development and Empowerment.

This has been done by removing Youth from Sports, and making it stand alone as Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment.

Sports has a new name with Recreation added to it – Ministry of Sports and Recreation.

Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has been added to Local Government – Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs.

President Mahama has also highlighted Green Transition and added it to the name of Energy – Ministry of Energy and Green Transition.

Innovation has also been removed from Environment, Science, and Technology and added to the Ministry of Communications with the new name, Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations.