President John Dramani Mahama has formally sworn in Mahama Ayariga as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, filling key vacancies left by last year’s tragic helicopter crash .
The ceremony, held at the Jubilee House on Saturday morning, saw the two ministers take the Oath of Office, Oath of Secrecy and Oath of Allegiance, marking the formal commencement of their duties . Their appointments followed parliamentary approval on Thursday, August 27, after successful vetting by the Appointments Committee .
A reshuffle born of tragedy
The appointments complete a cabinet reshuffle triggered by the August 2025 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of two ministers: the late Edward Kofi Omane Boamah (Defence) and the late Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed (Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation) . The presidency announced the changes on August 7, which also saw former Local Government Minister Ahmed Ibrahim reassigned to Works, Housing and Water Resources, and Kenneth Gilbert Adjei nominated as Defence Minister .
Ayariga: From Majority Leader to Local Government
Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central and former Majority Leader, takes charge of a portfolio encompassing decentralisation, local government administration, chieftaincy affairs, and engagement with traditional and religious institutions . A trained lawyer and seasoned politician, he has served in Parliament for four consecutive terms and previously held ministerial roles under President Mahama’s first administration, including Minister of Information and Minister of Youth and Sports .
During his vetting, Ayariga identified improved cooperation between Members of Parliament and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) as a priority and assured the Mamprugu Traditional Council of his impartiality despite his personal ties to the area . Speaking after taking the oath, he pledged to deliver on the President’s 2024 campaign commitments: “We will work to realise the commitments that you made to Ghanaians in your promise to reset the country when you campaigned in 2024” .
His appointment drew some criticism from former Tarkwa MP George Mireku Duker, who questioned his grassroots experience, while former Tamale Central MP Inusah Fuseini defended the nomination, citing Ayariga’s strong academic background in political science and decentralisation .
Zanetor: From backbenches to Cabinet
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, three-term MP for Klottey Korle and eldest daughter of former President Jerry John Rawlings, assumes responsibility for a ministry with a wide mandate covering environmental protection, scientific research, technological advancement, and the government’s anti-galamsey enforcement agenda . A medical doctor by training, she holds a degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and a master’s in Conflict, Peace and Security from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre .
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings has built her political identity beyond her family name, championing environmental activism and community development since entering Parliament in 2017 . She currently chairs the Parliamentary Select Committee on Security and Intelligence and serves on Ghana’s delegation to the Pan African Parliament . Her entry into Cabinet comes after persistent public speculation about her potential elevation, with her name having circulated for months in connection with the Defence portfolio before she was placed at Environment, Science and Technology .
President Mahama has charged both ministers to uphold accountability, transparency and integrity as they assume their new responsibilities . The swearing-in ceremony also included three newly appointed Supreme Court nominees: Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jnr .
