Tamale, August 26, 2026 — President John Dramani Mahama has announced further changes to his government, including a reshuffle affecting the Ministries of Labour, Employment and Job Creation and Special Initiatives.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency Communications on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Hon. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, who has been serving as Minister for Labour, Employment and Job Creation, has been reassigned as Minister of State for Special Initiatives.
In a related change, Hon. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum has been appointed to replace Mr. Pelpuo as Minister for Labour, Employment and Job Creation.
The Labour, Employment and Job Creation portfolio is a critical component of the Mahama administration’s agenda, particularly in addressing unemployment, expanding decent work opportunities and coordinating government interventions aimed at job creation.
Meanwhile, President Mahama has also reassigned Deputy Minister for Defence, Hon. Ernest Brogya Genfi, to serve as Presidential Advisor on National Resilience and Emergency Preparedness.
Hon. Brogya Genfi served as Deputy Defence Minister under the late Dr Edward Omane Boamah, who died in a military helicopter crash.
The latest changes come approximately three weeks after President Mahama announced another reshuffle of his government, which also affected key ministerial portfolios.
Under the earlier changes, the President nominated Dr Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings as Minister for Environment and Mahama Ayariga as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
President Mahama also moved Kenneth Gilbert Adjei from the Ministry of Works and Housing to the Ministry of Defence as substantive Minister.
Mr Adjei subsequently assumed responsibility for the Defence Ministry following the death of Dr Edward Omane Boamah in the military helicopter crash.
The latest reassignment of Mr Brogya Genfi is therefore significant, given his previous role as Deputy Minister at the Defence Ministry under the late Defence Minister.
Meanwhile, the ministerial nominations of Mr Mahama Ayariga and Dr Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings announced in the earlier reshuffle are still awaiting parliamentary vetting.
The vetting exercise has been scheduled for Thursday, August 27, 2026, when Parliament’s Appointments Committee is expected to scrutinise the nominees before their nominations proceed to the next stage of parliamentary approval.
The Presidency Communications statement, signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, said the latest changes take immediate effect.
The continuing adjustments to the Mahama administration are expected to strengthen coordination across key sectors and align ministerial responsibilities with the government’s policy priorities and delivery agenda.
