Claim: President Mahama has appointed 100 ministers and deputy ministers
Source: Samuel Abu Jinapor
Verdict: False!
Researched by Samuel Nii Adjetey
The Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has claimed President John Mahama has appointed about 100 ministers and deputy ministers despite promising Ghanaians a lean government of 60 ministers.
The Damongo MP during a submission on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, indicated that the appointments have resulted in significant expenses for the national treasury.
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“President Mahama has formed arguably one of the largest governments in the history of our country in terms of cost to the national exchequer. Why do I say this? Take for example, the president has appointed Dr. Valerie Sawyer a senior presidential adviser in charge of government affairs. Her rank is a cabinet minister who doubles as a Member of Parliament, so her salary, her emoluments, conditions of service, everything to do with her office is at the same rank as a cabinet minister who doubles as a Member of Parliament…
“He has appointed a presidential advisor on the economy. He appointed a presidential advisor for 24-hour economy, presidential advisor and special aide to the president…” he said.
“I’ve done the mathematics and I want to submit and I do this not from a partisan lens, but I do this as somebody who had a privilege and honor to serve as deputy Chief of Staff. I know how it works. In terms of the costs on the National Exchequer, the president has appointed 100 ministers and deputy ministers,” he concluded.
The claim was captured in articles published by some news websites, including GhanaWeb. The claim was also amplified by some social media users, here, here, and here.
Fact-check
GhanaFact’s investigation into ministerial appointments by President John Dramani Mahama shows that the president has, as of March 17, 2025, appointed a total of 56 out of the 60 ministers he promised and as contained in the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) 2024 manifesto.
A breakdown of President Mahama’s Ministerial appointments are as follows:
| No. | Category | Number Appointed |
| 1. | Substantive Ministers | 23 |
| 2. | Ministers of State | 4 |
| 3. | Regional Ministers | 16 |
| 4. | Deputy Regional Ministers | 13 |
| Total | 56 |
Sequence of announcements:
First Batch
On Thursday, January 9, 2025, President Mahama announced his first set of ministerial nominees, they included nominees for the Ministry of Finance, Energy and Green Transition and Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
| No. | Nominee | Sector |
| 1. | Cassiel Ato Forson (MP) | Finance |
| 2 | John Abdulai Jinapor (MP) | Energy and Green Transition |
| 3 | Dominic Akuritinga Ayine (MP) | Attorney-General and Minister of Justice |
Second Batch
On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, President Mahama announced his first 10 regional ministers-designate. The list, included the following names:
| No. | Nominee | Region |
| 1. | Mrs Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey | Eastern |
| 2. | Ibrahim Tia | North East |
| 3. | Dr Frank Amoakohene | Ashanti |
| 4. | Danatus Akamugri Atanga | Upper East |
| 5. | Charity Gardiner | Ahafo |
| 6. | Salisu Bi-Awuribe | Savannah |
| 7. | Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo | Greater Accra |
| 8. | Ali Adolf John | Northern |
| 9. | John Kwadwo Gyapong | Oti |
| 10. | Volta | James Gunu |
Third Batch
On Thursday, January 16, 2025, President Mahama submitted the names of nine additional 12 nominees for various ministerial portfolios to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin. The list included 9 sector ministers and 3 Regional Ministers.
| No. | Nominee | Region/Sector |
| 1. | Wilbert Petty Brentum | Western North |
| 2. | Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere | Central Region |
| 3. | Joseph Nelson | Western Region |
| 4. | Kwame Governs Agbodza (MP) | Ministry of Roads and Highways |
| 5. | Eric Opoku (MP) | Ministry of Food and Agriculture |
| 6. | Agnes Naa Momo Lartey (MP) | Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection |
| 7. | Abla Dzifa Gomashie (MP) | Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts |
| 8. | Emelia Arthur (MP) | Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture |
| 9. | George Opare-Addo | Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment |
| 10. | Haruna Iddrisu (MP) | Ministry of Education |
| 11. | Ahmed Ibrahim (MP) | Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs |
| 12. | Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare (MP) | Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry |
Fourth Batch
On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the fourth batch of ministerial nominees was submitted to Parliament for vetting. The list included 3 Regional Ministers, 11 Sector Ministers and 3 Ministers of State.
| No. | Nominee | Sector/ Role |
| 1. | Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah | Ministry of Defence |
| 2. | Samuel Nartey George, MP | Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations |
| 3. | Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP | Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources |
| 4. | Kofi Iddie Adams, MP | Ministry of Sports and Recreation |
| 5. | Abdul-Rashid H. Pelpuo, MP | Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment |
| 6. | Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, MP | Ministry of Health |
| 7. | Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, MP | Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology |
| 8. | Joseph Bukari Nikpe, MP | Ministry of Transport |
| 9. | Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, MP | Ministry of Interior |
| 10. | Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| 11. | Adjel Kenneth Gilbert | Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources |
| 12. | Puozuing Charles Lwanga | Upper West |
| 13. | Joseph Addae Akwaboa | Bono |
| 14 | Francis Owusu Antwi | Bono East |
| 15. | Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, MP | Minister of State in Charge of Special Initiatives |
| 16. | Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP | Minister of State, Government Communications |
| 17. | Issifu Seidu, MP | Minister of State, Climate Change and Sustainability |
Fifth Batch
On Tuesday, February 5, 2025, President Mahama announced a list of 13 deputy Ministers and 1 Minister of State, through presidential spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
The information above shows that President Mahama has not appointed 100 Ministers as claimed by Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor.
| No. | Nominee | Sector/ Role |
| 1. | Thomas Nyarko Ampem | Ministry of Finance |
| 2. | Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi | Ministry of the Interior |
| 3. | Ernest Brogya Gyenfi | Ministry of Defence |
| 4. | Clement Abas Apaak | Ministry of Education |
| 5. | Richard Gyan-Mensah | Ministry of Energy & Green Transition |
| 6. | Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini | Ministry of Roads & Highways |
| 7. | Justice Srem-Sai | Ministry of Justice & Attorney General |
| 8. | Yusif Sulemana | Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources |
| 9. | Rita Naa Odoley Sowah | Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs |
| 10. | Gizella Tettey-Agbotui | Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources |
| 11. | Yussif Issaka Jajah | Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts |
| 12. | John Kofi Setor Dumelo | Ministry of Food and Agriculture |
| 13. | Samson Ahi | Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry |
| 14. | Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba | Minister of State Public Sector Reforms. |
Reactions from Kwakye Ofosu and President Mahama
Responding to the claim in a press briefing, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu debunked the claim about 100 ministers, stating that it “is blatantly false”.
“So let the records be set straight that any claim that President Mahama has appointed 100 ministers and is hiding some in the presidency is blatantly false. The number of ministers who have been appointed is 56,” he said.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the 13 deputy ministers, President Mahama spoke about being left with four ministers to complete the 60 ministers promise he made during the elections.
“The swearing in of this batch of 13 deputy ministers and one minister of state brings us closer to achieving the full compliment of ministers. This week, I will submit a final list of four deputy ministers to achieve the full compliment of 60 ministers that we promised,” he said.
Verdict:
The claim of 100 ministers and deputy ministers in the John Dramani Mahama administration is rated False!
NOTE: GhanaFact has reached out to the Damongo MP, his response will be captured in this report once we get a reply from him.
