President John Dramani Mahama has sworn in Mahama Ayariga as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
The ceremony took place at the Jubilee House on Saturday, August 29, 2026, following Parliament’s approval of the two nominees on Thursday, August 27.
The two ministerial nominees were approved through a voice vote after Parliament considered and adopted the report of the Appointments Committee on their vetting.
Mr Ayariga, the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, returns to the Mahama administration in a ministerial role, having previously served as Minister of Information and Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection under President Mahama’s first administration.
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, becomes the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
The two appointments form part of President Mahama’s ongoing changes to his administration as he seeks to advance his government’s policy agenda.
Meanwhile, Parliament has also approved three nominees for appointment to the Supreme Court: Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jnr.
Their approval followed a contentious vetting process during which the Minority Caucus, led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, walked out of the Appointments Committee after its objections to the accelerated process were rejected.
The Minority had argued that there was no immediate vacancy on the Supreme Court bench requiring the accelerated vetting and approval of the nominees.
Appointments Committee Chairman Bernard Ahiafor, however, rejected the objection, describing the grounds as “flimsy”, “hollow” and “baseless”.
The three Supreme Court nominees were nominated by President Mahama in consultation with the Judicial Council. Their parliamentary approval completes the legislative stage of the appointment process, subject to the remaining constitutional requirements.