Mahama cuts number of ministries to 23 from 30

As part of a strategic restructuring effort to improve efficiency and streamline operations, President John Dramani Mahama has reduced the number of government ministries from 29 to 23.

This reorganisation was formalised through the Civil Service (Ministries) Instrument, 2025 (E.I. 1), signed by the President on January 9, 2025. The Executive Instrument establishes the new ministries and revokes the previous structure under the Civil Service (Ministries) Instrument, 2021 (E.I. 12).

The reshuffle introduces a Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, separating Youth from Sports, which is now renamed the Ministry of Sports and Recreation. Similarly, the Ministry of Local Government has been expanded to include Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, forming the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs.

President Mahama has also emphasized the country’s green agenda, renaming the Ministry of Energy to the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition. In another key change, the Ministry of Communications now includes Innovation, rebranded as the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations.

Following these adjustments, Ghana’s Civil Service now comprises 23 ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defence, and newly restructured portfolios such as the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology and the Ministry of Labour, Jobs, and Employment. Ministries such as Information, National Security, and Public Enterprises have been removed or absorbed into others.

The withdrawn ministries include Information, National Security, Parliamentary Affairs, Railway Development, Sanitation and Water Resources, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and Public Enterprises.

President Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to limiting the total number of ministers to 60, aligning with his campaign pledge to deliver a leaner, more effective government.