President John Dramani Mahama has effected another change to his ministerial team, moving Labour, Jobs and Employment Minister Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo to the Presidency as Minister of State in charge of Special Initiatives.
The reassignment forms part of the latest adjustments to portfolios within the Mahama administration, with government seeking to realign responsibilities among key officials.
A statement issued by the Presidency on Wednesday and signed by the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, confirmed the changes.
Under the new arrangement, Dr Pelpuo will assume responsibility for Special Initiatives at the Office of the President, taking over from Emmanuel Agyekum, who currently occupies the position.
Mr Agyekum is expected to move in the opposite direction, assuming leadership of the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment in place of Dr Pelpuo.
The Presidency is expected to formally announce Mr Agyekum’s appointment to the Labour Ministry.
More changes at the Presidency
The latest reassignment also affects Deputy Defence Minister Ernest Brogya Genfi, who has been removed from the Ministry of Defence and reassigned to the Presidency as a Special Advisor.
Mr Brogya Genfi had served as Deputy Defence Minister during a period of transition at the ministry following the appointment of Kenneth Gilbert Adjei as the substantive Defence Minister earlier this month.
His reassignment comes as President Mahama continues to adjust the composition and responsibilities of his administration.
Follows recent ministerial reshuffle
The changes come only weeks after President Mahama undertook a broader ministerial reshuffle that affected several ministries.
As part of that exercise, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei was moved from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources to the Ministry of Defence.
Ahmed Ibrahim, meanwhile, was reassigned from the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to take charge of the Works, Housing and Water Resources Ministry.
The latest movements further underscore the administration’s ongoing efforts to reorganise ministerial responsibilities as the government advances its agenda.
