President John Mahama of Ghana has announced the scrapping of seven government ministries as part of efforts to reduce the cost of governance. The decision, made through an executive order, was published in a gazette on January 9, 2025, just two days after Mahama took office for his second term.
As a result of the restructuring, the number of government ministries has been reduced from 30 to 23. According to the gazette, Ghana will no longer have ministries dedicated to Information, Sanitation and Water Resources, and National Security. Other ministries abolished include Railway Development, Parliamentary Affairs, Public Enterprises, and Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
The new order establishes the following ministries: Finance, Health, Interior, Defence, Education, Energy and Green Transition, Roads and Highways, Transport, Sports and Recreation, Justice, Lands and Natural Resources, and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Other ministries retained include Foreign Affairs, Communication, Digital Technology, Environment, Science and Technology, Youth Development and Empowerment, Works, Housing and Water Resources, Gender, Children and Social Protection, Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Labour, Jobs and Employment, Food and Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Trade, Agribusiness and Industry.
Mahama previously served as Ghana’s president from 2012 to 2017, losing to Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2016 election. However, he made a successful return to power in 2025, defeating former Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia with 6,328,397 votes (56.55%) compared to Bawumia’s 4,657,304 votes (41.6%).