Parliament has unanimously approved the nominations of Mahama Ayariga and Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings to serve as ministers in President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
The approval followed the adoption of the report of Parliament’s Appointments Committee after both nominees appeared before the committee for vetting on Thursday, August 27, 2026.
Mahama Ayariga has been approved as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, while Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings has been approved as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
Parliament approves nominees without opposition
The two nominees received unanimous support from members on both sides of the House during the debate on the Appointments Committee’s report.
Legislators subsequently adopted the committee’s recommendations, paving the way for the two nominees to take up their new ministerial responsibilities.
Their approval follows President Mahama’s decision to reshuffle his government and nominate new substantive ministers for the two portfolios.
The President had nominated Mr Ayariga and Dr Agyeman-Rawlings earlier in August, subject to parliamentary approval in accordance with Article 78(1) of the 1992 Constitution.
Ayariga moves from Parliament to Local Government Ministry
Mahama Ayariga, the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, moves from his position as Majority Leader of Parliament to head the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
His appointment comes with significant responsibilities, particularly in strengthening local governance and improving revenue mobilisation by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
During his vetting, Mr Ayariga said Ghana’s local assemblies could potentially generate close to GH¢20 billion annually from property rates if properties across the country were properly identified, valued and billed.
He also pledged to introduce a fully digital system for revenue mobilisation, payment and disbursement at the local government level.
According to him, digitising the entire process would make it more difficult for locally generated funds to be diverted and improve accountability in the management of Assembly revenues.
Mr Ayariga has served in several senior government and parliamentary positions and is a lawyer with more than two decades of political experience.
Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings takes charge of Environment Ministry
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the three-term Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, has also secured Parliament’s approval to become the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
The medical doctor and daughter of former President Jerry John Rawlings is expected to take on major environmental challenges, including plastic waste management, pollution and climate-related concerns.
During her vetting, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings proposed greater investment in research into locally produced alternatives to conventional plastics.
She said funding could be channelled to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to develop biodegradable alternatives from locally available crops such as cassava and hemp.
She also indicated that Ghana could move beyond simply banning or restricting plastics by investing in sustainable alternatives that can support an emerging local industry.
Bagbin congratulates the two nominees
Following Parliament’s approval, Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin congratulated the two newly approved ministers.
He urged them to go beyond their previous parliamentary responsibilities and work to address the challenges confronting their respective ministries.
The Speaker also reminded them that their new positions would require them to balance their roles as legislators with their ministerial responsibilities.
“You are going to wear additional hats and that is not going to be easy,” Mr Bagbin told the two nominees.
He specifically warned Mr Ayariga that his new assignment would be demanding, given the wide-ranging responsibilities of the Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ministry.
What happens next?
With Parliament’s approval secured, Mahama Ayariga and Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings can now proceed to assume their respective ministerial responsibilities, subject to the formal swearing-in process.
Mr Ayariga’s departure from the Majority Leadership has already resulted in the nomination of Builsa North MP James Agalga as acting Majority Leader.
The appointments form part of President Mahama’s broader changes to his administration, aimed at filling key ministerial positions and realigning responsibilities within government.
The two ministers are now expected to translate their respective policy proposals into action as they take charge of their ministries.
For Mr Ayariga, attention is likely to focus on local government revenue mobilisation, decentralisation and the financial sustainability of MMDAs.
For Dr Agyeman-Rawlings, environmental protection, plastic waste management, scientific research and the development of sustainable alternatives are expected to feature prominently on her agenda.
The unanimous parliamentary approval of both nominees marks an important step in President Mahama’s latest ministerial changes and clears the way for the two MPs to assume their new executive responsibilities.
