Parliament unanimously approves Ayariga, Zenator as ministers

Parliament has unanimously approved the nominations of Mahama Ayariga and Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings for ministerial appointments.

Mr Ayariga, the immediate past Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, has been approved as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, while Dr Agyeman-Rawlings has been approved as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.

The approval followed the adoption of the report of Parliament’s Appointments Committee on the two nominees, who were vetted on Thursday, August 27, 2026.

Before the report was adopted, members from both sides of the House contributed to the debate and unanimously endorsed the appointments.

Following the approval, Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin congratulated the two nominees and urged them to bring their experience as legislators to bear on their new ministerial responsibilities.

Mr Bagbin, however, cautioned the two ministers that their new roles would come with additional responsibilities and would require them to go beyond the ordinary expectations of their respective offices.

“You are going to wear additional hats and that is not going to be easy,” he said.

The Speaker particularly cautioned Mr Ayariga, who until his reassignment served as Majority Leader, that his new portfolio would be demanding.

“And particularly my son, Honourable Mahama Ayariga, you have a very tall mountain to climb,” Mr Bagbin said.

He urged both nominees to draw on the experience they had acquired in Parliament as they assumed responsibility for their respective ministries.