President John Dramani Mahama has nominated Majority Leader and Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga, to the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs in his first ministerial shake-up.
Klottey Korle Member of Parliament, Dr. Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings, joins the Majority Leader in the executive as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
The announcement, made on Friday, August 7, 2026, aimed at filling key vacancies and strengthening the administration.
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The nominations, submitted to Parliament in accordance with Article 78(1) of the 1992 Constitution, require parliamentary approval before the nominees can officially assume office.
The decision by President Mahama to nominate Dr. Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings comes after months of speculation about her possible elevation to Cabinet.
If approved by Parliament, Dr. Zanetor will replace the late Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who served as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology until he died in the August 2025 Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash.
Dr. Zanetor, who has represented the Klottey Korle Constituency since 2017, has served on Parliament’s Environment, Science and Technology Committee and has consistently advocated stronger environmental protection policies, including sustainable solutions to flooding and climate-related challenges.
Her nomination is expected to strengthen government efforts to address environmental sustainability, scientific innovation and technological development.
The ministerial shake-up also includes the reassignment of two ministers. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei has been moved from the Ministry of Works and Housing to the Ministry of Defence.
He is expected to take over from Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who has been serving as Acting Defence Minister since the death of former Defence Minister Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah in the August 2025 helicopter crash.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Ibrahim, Member of Parliament for Banda, has been reassigned to head the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources.
Statement from the Presidency
The ministerial shake-up was announced in a statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Member of Parliament, Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications.
According to the statement, all nominees will appear before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for vetting before their nominations are presented to the House for debate and approval.
The reshuffle forms part of President Mahama’s efforts to fill vacancies created by the tragic August 2025 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight government officials, including Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and Defence Minister Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah.
The nominations are expected to restore full leadership to key ministries while reinforcing the government’s policy implementation agenda.
With Parliament expected to begin the vetting process soon, attention will now turn to the Appointments Committee as the nominees seek approval to officially join President Mahama’s Cabinet.