Akufo-Addo fires Ofori-Atta in reshuffle; full list of ministerial changes

President Nana Akufo-Addo has removed Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister, effective immediately.

Mr. Ofori-Atta’s removal comes after months of revolt against him by senior members of the ruling administration over his alleged poor performance.

Two years ago, amid an IMF bailout application, the majority caucus in Parliament staged a protest demanding President Akufo-Addo remove the ex-investment banker, citing gross mismanagement.

There were similar calls by the minority for Mr. Ofori-Atta’s impeachment.

However, President Akufo-Addo asked the NPP members to allow the Finance Minister to continue his work until the IMF deal is sealed.

Nonetheless, Mr. Ofori-Atta stayed on despite the fact that the IMF deal went through in May 2023, raising questions about the president’s earlier promise.

Mr. Ofori-Atta’s work as Finance Minister has been a subject of debate, overseeing the introduction of the controversial Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy), the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, and the seeking of assistance from the IMF, which actions he had earlier spoken against.

He has also been criticised for his lack of adequate consultation in the formulation of key government decisions and policies.

Meanwhile, the President has also relieved several ministers and deputy ministers of their positions.

The majority of the ministers who were removed by the President are NPP MPs who recently lost their seats in their internal parliamentary elections.

The dismissed ministers include Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie; and Local Government Minister, Dan Botwe.

However, Ministers for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, and Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, were re-assigned as Ministers of State at the Presidency and Works and Housing, respectively.

Below is the full list of changes to the cabinet announced by the Communications Director at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, on Wednesday.

Exit from office (Ministers)

MINISTRY	NAME
Finance	Ken Ofori-Atta
Interior	Hon. Ambrose Dery, MP
Health	Hon. Kwaku Agyeman Manu, MP
Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation	Hon. Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, MP
Information	Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, MP
Roads and Highways	Hon. Kwasi Amoako-Atta, MP
Works and Housing	Hon. Francis Asenso Boakye, MP
Gender, Children and Social Protection	Hon. Lariba Abudu, MP
Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Devt	Hon. Dan Botwe, MP
Sanitation and Water Resources	Hon. Freda Prempeh, MP
Tourism, Arts and Culture	Ibrahim Mohammed Awal
Greater Accra Region	Hon. Henry Quartey, MP
Oti Region	Mr. Joseph Makubu

Exit from office (Deputy Ministers)

MINISTRY	NAME
Information	Ms. Fatimatu Abubakar
Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development	Hon. Collins Ntim Aboagye, MP Hon. Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, MP
Communications and Digitilisation	Hon. Ama Pomaa Boateng, MP
Health	Hon. Tina Mensah, MP Hon. Mohammed Asei Seini, MP
Works and Housing	Hon. Abdulai Abanga, MP
Lands and Natural Resources	Hon. Benito Owusu Bio, MP
Fisheries and Aquaculture Development	Hon. Moses Anim, MP
Energy	Hon. William Owuraku Aidoo, MP Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer, MP
Education	Hon. Gifty Twum Ampofo, MP
Employment and Labour Relations	Hon. Bright Wireko-Brobbey, MP

Ministers of State Designate

MINISTRY	NAME
Health	Hon. Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye
Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation	Hon. Ophelia Mensah Hayford, MP
Information	Ms. Fatimatu Abubakar
Gender, Children and Social Protection	Hon. Dakoa Newman, MP
Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development	Hon. Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah
Sanitation and Water Resources	Hon. Lydia Seyram Alhassan
Tourism, Arts and Culture	Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer, MP
Greater Accra Region	Hon. Titus Glover
Oti Region	Mr. Daniel Machator

Deputy Minister of State (Designate)

MINISTRY	NAME
Information	Hon. Sylvester Tetteh, MP
Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development	Hon. Vincent Ekow Assafuah, MP
Communications and Digitilisation	Hon. Charles Acheampong, MP

Health	Hon. Adelaide Ntim, MP Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, MP
Works and Housing	Hon. Dr. Prince Hamidu Armah, MP
Lands and Natural Resources	Hon. Akwasi Konadu, MP
Fisheries and Aquaculture Development	Hon. Musah Abdul Aziz Ayaba, MP
Energy	Hon. John Kobina Sanie, MP Hon. Collins Adomako Mensah, MP
Education	Hon. Kingsley Nyarko, MP
Employment and Labour Relations	Hon. Festus Awuah Kwofie, MP
Gender, Children and Social Protection	Hon. Benjamin Sekyere Yeboah, MP