President Mahama Finalizes 60-Member Ministerial Team Amid Nationwide Calls for Constitutional Reform

President John Dramani Mahama has officially completed the formation of his government following Parliament's approval and the subsequent swearing-in of the final batch of deputy ministers. The four new appointees—Prof. Grace Ayensu-Danquah (Health), Dorcas Affo-Toffey (Transport), James Gyakye Quayson (Foreign Affairs), and Mohammed Adams Sukparu (Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations)—bring the total ministerial count to 60. This milestone fulfills a primary campaign pledge by President Mahama to maintain a lean and efficient administration. During the swearing-in ceremony, the President emphasized that the streamlined team is part of a broader strategy to restore trust in public service, noting that savings from budget cuts at the Office of the President will be redirected toward the education and health sectors.

While the executive branch solidifies its structure, the Constitution Review Committee (CRC), chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, is moving into the final stages of its public engagement process. Established by President Mahama shortly after his inauguration in January 2025, the committee has been gathering diverse proposals aimed at updating the 1992 Constitution. Stakeholders have proposed significant shifts, including reducing the minimum age for presidential candidates to 21, limiting the President's appointment powers over the Electoral Commission, and decoupling the roles of Member of Parliament and Minister to enhance the separation of powers. Amid these discussions, political scientists Professor Joseph Atsu Ayee and Dr. John Osae-Kwapong have pushed back against alternative proposals for a new Constituent Assembly, arguing that the current CRC framework provides a more efficient and transparent path for reform.

Institutional challenges within the legal and legislative sectors have also come to the fore. Attorney-General Dr. Dominic A. Ayine recently alerted the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs regarding a crisis of high attrition within his office. Dr. Ayine cited poor compensation and heavy workloads as primary factors driving skilled state attorneys toward the private sector, urging for immediate funding increases to retain legal talent. Simultaneously, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, addressed the 11th Biennial Conference of the Commonwealth Hansard Editors Association, warning that parliamentary records face increasing threats from digital manipulation and "fake news." He called for urgent investment in technological upgrades for Hansard staff to ensure the integrity of democratic documentation.

On the security front, Mahama Ayariga, the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, has issued a stern call to end the politicization of the long-standing Bawku conflict. Following a series of violent escalations, including the murder of a local chief and students, Ayariga urged political leaders to prioritize peace over partisan interests. Meanwhile, the legal system has set a significant precedent regarding the limits of religious freedom. The 15-year prison sentence handed to Nana Agradaa for money-doubling fraud has sparked a national debate on the regulation of "one-man churches." Experts suggest that while religious autonomy is protected, the conviction serves as a clear signal that fraudulent practices under the guise of faith will face strict legal scrutiny, highlighting an urgent need for a clearer regulatory framework for religious organizations in Ghana.