In a highly anticipated move, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is poised to announce the most significant government reshuffle since assuming office in 2017. Various media reports suggest that this impending shake-up will involve key cabinet ministers taking on new roles, with some individuals exiting the government altogether.
Calls for a reshuffle have echoed over the years, gaining prominence in recent months with a notable appeal from New Patriotic Party (NPP) General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong. Speaking at a party event in December 2023, Frimpong emphasized the need for changes within the government, stating, “If new names and faces come into government, we stand a better chance of retaining power.”
The reshuffle follows the conclusion of the NPP’s parliamentary primaries, where several ministers and deputies either lost their bids for parliamentary seats or opted against returning to parliament.
Accra-based radio station, Accra 100.5 FM, has provided insight into the anticipated changes, identifying five key ministries likely to see adjustments: finance, information, foreign affairs, roads, and youth and sports.
According to Sammy Gyasi, the station’s senior producer, the forthcoming reshuffle includes notable changes such as:
a. Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s move to the foreign affairs ministry, suggesting potential changes to the current foreign affairs minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.
b. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah’s shift from the information ministry to the sports ministry. The fate of the current sports minister, Mustapha Ussif, remains uncertain.
c. The likely departure of Roads Minister Amoako Atta from the government.
d. Uncertainty surrounds the finance ministry, raising questions about the future role of Ofori-Atta within the government.
e. Anticipated changes in the housing ministry, currently led by Bantama MP, Francis Asenso-Boakye.
In the case of the foreign affairs ministry, the current minister’s recent bid to become Commonwealth Secretary General suggests that exiting the government will allow her to focus on her campaign.
Analysts speculate that individuals considered loyalists to the party’s flagbearer, Mahamudu Bawumia, may assume roles as the NPP gears up for the 2024 general elections.
This move marks the second major reshuffle by Akufo-Addo in two weeks, following the recent replacement of 24 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) as part of efforts to rejuvenate the system. The last significant government shake-up occurred a month after former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen and Agriculture Minister Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto resigned to concentrate on their presidential campaigns. The forthcoming changes underscore the government’s commitment to adaptability and efficiency as it navigates the evolving political landscape.
