President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the appointment of substantive Ministers for Defence and Environment will be made early next year, bringing clarity to weeks of speculation following the tragic deaths of the two officeholders.
The President made the remarks during a courtesy call by the leadership of the Ghana Muslim Mission at the Jubilee House, where he used the occasion to address what he described as unnecessary public guesswork about imminent ministerial changes.
Explaining the current status of his administration’s ministerial structure, President Mahama reiterated his commitment to maintaining a lean government, an assurance he gave at the beginning of his administration.
“We made a promise not to appoint more than 60 ministers, and some people said, ‘How are you going to work with only 60 ministers?’ As I speak today, we are working with 58 ministers because, unfortunately, they say Allah gives, and Allah takes”.
President John Dramani Mahama
He noted that the nation continues to mourn the untimely passing of the Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Hon. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, both of whom died in the helicopter crash of August 6 that claimed the lives of eight citizens.
The President explained that despite the vacancies created by the tragedy, government has opted against rushing to fill the positions. He stressed that while there has been pressure from the public, commentary from political circles and constant media conjecture about who might replace the deceased ministers, the administration is taking a measured approach.
“I can see people speculating he’s going to appoint a new defence minister, a new environment minister. We’re not in a hurry, I’ll do those appointments next year after the holiday, the Christmas and the New Year.
“We’ll fill those positions, and so those speculating about somebody going to be appointed tomorrow and all that, I mean, just take your time. Go and enjoy Christmas, and then after Christmas, we will take a decision on those ones.”
President John Dramani Mahama
No Leadership Vacuum
President Mahama acknowledged the concerns of citizens who feel the absence of substantive ministers may affect policy continuity, especially in sensitive sectors such as defence, climate policy, and environmental management. However, he assured the nation that the ministries are functioning effectively under the leadership of the acting ministers.
Since the deaths of Dr. Omane Boamah and Hon. Murtala Mohammed, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has been serving as Acting Minister for Defence, while the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah has been acting as the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
According to the President, both acting ministers have provided adequate leadership to ensure that government work remains uninterrupted. He commended them for what he described as a spirit of national responsibility in stepping in during a difficult period.
The President’s remarks come at a time when the Defence Ministry is handling critical national security coordination, including ongoing border security operations and regional peacekeeping engagements.
Similarly, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology is undertaking major policy revisions on climate adaptation, waste management reforms and renewable energy expansion, all central to the administration’s sustainability agenda. Given the weight of these portfolios, questions about when substantive appointments would be made had intensified as the year drew to a close.
By signalling that the announcement will come after the Christmas and New Year holidays, President Mahama appears to be calming the political environment as the government prepares for a decisive policy year ahead.
His reminder for Ghanaians to “take your time” and enjoy the festive season also suggests the administration sees no immediate leadership vacuum that could compromise national governance.
Many of the eight Ghanaians who lost their lives in the helicopter crash were celebrated public servants, and the President noted that their contributions would continue to be honoured. The filling of the vacant ministerial positions, he suggested, would follow due process and be guided by what best serves national interest, rather than the urgency of public pressure.
The President’s decision to wait until next year may also allow for deeper internal consultations within the governing structure and the selection of individuals whose expertise aligns with the administration’s next phase of national security and environmental reforms.
It also avoids the optics of making critical appointments during a holiday season when national attention is divided. As the year approaches its end, the President’s assurance that the ministries remain stable, coupled with his commitment to appointing substantive replacements early next year, provides a clear timeline that may quiet ongoing debates.
His call for patience and national calm underscores a governance approach that prioritises stability, deliberate decision-making and respect for the memories of the late ministers whose passing created the vacancies.
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