On Wednesday, February 14, President Akufo-Addo announced a ministerial reshuffle in his government. This is the first major overhaul since assuming office in January 2017.
The president relieved Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta of his duties and kicked out Roads Minister Kwame Amoako-Atta and Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu.
Apart from removing some ministers from their posts, President Akufo-Addo resigned others including deputy ministers and appointed new personalities to some ministries.
Below are the new ministers appointed;
Ophelia Mensah Hayford – Minister-designate for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
Madam Hayford takes over the post from Kwaku Afriyie. She is the Member of Parliament for Mfantsiman Constituency. She was once a police officer but joined politics after the death of her husband, the late MP Ekow Hayford.
As an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Ophelia Hayford also worked with the Interpol Unit at the CID Headquarters. She has also served as a police advisor at the United Nations. Currently, as an MP, Madam Hayford is Vice Chairperson of the Defense and Interior Committee.
Dakoa Newman – Minister-designate of Gender, Children and Social Protection
She is the Member of Parliament for the Okaikwei South Constituency. Miss Newman is a Chartered Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Chartered Risk Management Professional (RMP) certified by the Project Management Institute, USA (2017).
She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon and a Master’s Degree in Program and Project Management from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom. Currently, she serves on Parliament’s Education Committee and the Public Accounts Committee.
Dakoa Newman takes over the Gender Ministry from Madam Lariba Zuweira Abudu.
Lydia Seyram Alhassan – Minister-designate for Sanitation and Water Resources
Madam Alhassan became the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon in a by-election held after the passing of Mr. Emmanuel Boakye Agyarko.
She holds an MBA in Marketing from the University of Ghana Business School, Legon and a Bachelor of Administration degree from Ghana the Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
Currently, she serves on four parliamentary committees including the Health Committee, the Business Committee and the Mines and Energy Committee.
Lydia Seyram Alhassan takes over this role from Dr Freda Prempeh.
Daniel Machator – Oti Regional Minister-designate
Daniel Machator takes over this role from Joshua Gmayenaam Makubu – the second person with a disability to be appointed as a Ghanaian minister. Mr Makubu assumed the role in 2021.
Vincent Ekow Assafuah – Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development
Vincent Ekow Assafuah has been appointed as a Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development previously headed by Dan Botwe.
The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo was previously the PRO for the Education Ministry. He also sits on two committees in Parliament; the House Committee and the Education.
Titus Glover – Greater Accra Regional Minister-designate
Former Tema East Member of Parliament, Titus Glover, takes over this position from Henry Quarter, MP for Ayawaso Central.
Prior to this, the former legislator was Managing Director of Volta Aluminum Company Limited (VALCO).
Sylvester Tetteh – Deputy Minister-designate for Information
The Ngleshie-Amanfrom MP Sylvester Tetteh has been appointed a Deputy Minister-designate for Information taking over from Fatima Abubakar.
He is currently the Vice Chairperson of Parliament’s Communications Committee.
