President John Dramani Mahama on August 7, 2026 announced his first ministerial reshuffle since he returned to office in January 2025. The shake-up essentially allowed him to replace two serving ministers who perished along with six others in the August 6, 2026 helicopter crash at Brofoyedru in the Ashanti Region.
The president, however, opted through the reshuffle to reassign two ministers different roles while appointing replacements for Edward Omane Boamah and Ibrahim Murtala – the former Defense and Environment, Science and Technology ministers respectively.
Dr. Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings (Klortey Korley MP) was named nominee for the Environment ministry while Mahama Ayariga (Bawku Central MP) was named nominee for the Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs ministry.
Ayariga will replace Ahmed Ibrahim, (MP for Banda) at the Local Government ministry, while the Banda MP heads to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources to replace Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, the latter replaces Omane Boamah as the next Defense minister.
When did Mahama make the women in cabinet quota promise?
During the launch of the NDC Women’s Manifesto on September 30, 2024, candidate Mahama promised to give 30% of cabinet positions to women if he became president. “Within the first 14 days of my presidency, I will nominate my Cabinet – 30% of whom will be women,” he said.
Zanetor’s nomination and impact on President’s cabinet promise
In March 2024, GhanaFact published a report titled: “Fact-checking President Mahama’s cabinet promises – 30% women quota, timeline for nominations.” The report found that even though the president delivered on his promise to appoint his cabinet within 14 days, the promise on a 30% quota for women was missed.
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Out of the 19 cabinet ministers announced in February 2025, only two (2) were women;
- Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare- Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry and
- Agnes Naa Momo Lartey- Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.
However, per Article 76 of the 1992 Constitution, the cabinet comprises the president, vice president, 19 ministers of state and a cabinet secretary.
It means with the addition of the Vice President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, it brought the number of women in cabinet to three out of 22, which translates to 13.6% of women per the Constitutional definition of cabinet.
The impending addition of Zanetor to the cabinet takes the number of women to four out of 22, which translates to 18.1% which is still below the 30% quota promised. President Mahama must appoint at least seven women in his cabinet to hit the 30% mark.
