President Akufo-Addo has undertaken a significant Ministerial reshuffle, resulting in the removal of Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu and seven others from his government. This decision was communicated by the Director of Communication at the presidency, Eugene Arhin.
The Ministers who were not reassigned are as follows:
- Kwaku Agyeman Manu (formerly Health Minister)
- Mohammed Awal (Formerly Tourism Minister)
- Freda Prempeh (Formerly Sanitation and Water Resources Minister)
- Ken Ofori-Atta (Formerly Finance Minister)
- Dan Botwe (Formerly Local Government Minister)
- Kwasi Amoako-Atta (Formerly Roads and Highways Minister)
- Kwaku Afriyie (Formerly Environment Minister)
- Lariba Abudu (Formerly Gender Minister)
- Joseph Makubu (Formerly the Minister for the Oti Region)
The reshuffle comes amid pressure from some Ghanaians and civil society for the president to rejuvenate his cabinet to bring in fresh perspectives and ideas.
These calls originated as early as 2020 during one of the country’s most severe economic crises, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation worsened with high inflation rates, reaching 54 percent in January 2023, prompting over 80 Members of Parliament from the governing party to demand the dismissal of the Finance Minister.
The removal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu, is viewed by critics as a step towards ensuring accountability. The Finance Minister has been accused of mismanaging Ghana’s economy, while the Health Minister’s handling of the Sputnik Vaccine deal and the failure to account for the funds paid for vaccines that were never delivered have raised concerns.
The reshuffle has been met with mixed reactions, with some expressing disappointment that it came later than expected, while others question its impact given the limited time remaining for the government’s tenure. The Minority in Parliament, in particular, has called for further investigation and possible legal action against the Finance Minister and the Health Minister if they are found to be at fault.