Time for a Reset Within the 'Reset': Why President Mahama Must Act on Ministerial Reshuffle Now

When President John Dramani Mahama took the oath of office in January 2025, he promised a lean, efficient, and "battle-ready" government to rescue Ghana’s economy. By streamlining ministries from 30 down to 23, he signaled a bold departure from the status quo. However, sixteen months into this "Mahama 2.0" administration, the initial honeymoon period has evaporated, replaced by a growing chorus of demands for accountability. While the President’s "Resetting Ghana" agenda has seen success in stabilizing inflation and restoring fiscal discipline, a "quiet danger" of complacency and professional misalignment is beginning to stall the nation’s momentum. To prevent the rot of inertia, the President must look inward and prune his cabinet. Governance is not a sentimental journey; it is a performance-based contract with the people.

THE CASE FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESHUFFLE
Public sentiment and expert reviews from the first quarter of 2026 suggest that while the engine of government is running, some of its key parts are grinding. Veteran observers and even party stalwarts have noted that some ministers are already more focused on 2028 leadership contests than their current mandates.

Ministers Under Scrutiny and Reasons for Action:

• Samuel Nartey George (Communications and Digitalization):
  • The Issue: Critics and even spiritual voices have flagged this portfolio for urgent review.
  • Reason: Persistent concerns regarding the lack of technical alignment between his professional background and the high-tech requirements of the communications sector.
• Minister for Food and Agriculture:
  • The Issue: Recently cited by the Minority in Parliament for failing to appear and answer critical questions regarding national food security.
  • Reason: Perceived lack of urgency and responsiveness to parliamentary oversight, which undermines the administration's "listening" brand.
• Minister of State in Charge of Public Sector Reforms:
  • The Issue: Another notable absentee in parliamentary briefings, leading to calls for their replacement with more "eager" and "dedicated" personnel.
  • Reason: The public sector remains the backbone of the "24-Hour Economy" policy; if the lead reformer is absent, the policy's implementation will continue to face gaps.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING THE CABINET
To restore public confidence and accelerate the "Reset" agenda, the following steps are recommended:

1. Fill the Vacancies Immediately: Substantive Ministers for Defence and Environment, Science, and Technology must be appointed before the June 2026 deadline suggested by observers to provide full leadership in these critical security and ecological sectors.
2. Audit Professional Alignment: Reassign ministers whose educational and professional experiences do not match their portfolios. Technical ministries (Energy, Communications, Finance) require technical expertise, not just political loyalty.
3. Mandatory Performance Reviews: Establish a public-facing performance index for every ministry to ensure that the "Relational Democracy" the President advocates is felt by the citizens.
4. Curb Early Succession Talk: Act on the advice of the Executive Secretary by sacking any appointee who prioritizes personal political ambitions over national service.

CONCLUSION: A CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION
President Mahama often reminds us that "history is watching". In February 2026, he acknowledged that the management of some state enterprises remains "haphazard". The remedy for haphazard governance is decisive leadership. We cannot wait until 2027 to fix the cracks appearing today.

Mr. President, the "Reset" cannot be a one-time event; it must be a continuous process of refinement. Ghana needs a cabinet that is not just "battle-ready" on paper but active in the trenches. Sack the non-performers, reassign the misaligned, and fill the vacancies. The time to act is not "after the holiday" or "next year"—the time is now.

✍️ Retired Senior Citizen
For and on behalf of all Senior Citizens of the Republic of Ghana 🇬🇭

Teshie-Nungua
akpaluck@gmail.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect ModernGhana’s official position.

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