President reduces number of ministries - Labour Federation welcomes realignment

President John Dramani Mahama has reduced the number of government ministries from 29 to 23. 

It is part of an administrative restructuring initiative aimed to enhance efficiency and streamline government operations.

The reorganisation was formalised through the Civil Service (Ministries) Instrument, 2025 (E.I. 1), signed by President Mahama on January 9, 2025, which revoked the Civil Service (Ministries) Instrument, 2021 (E.I. 12).

The instrument was made in exercise of the power conferred on the President under section 11(3) of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (PNDCL 327).

The ministries include Finance, Health, Interior, Defence, Education, Energy and Green Transition, Roads and Highways, and Transport.

The others are Sports and Recreation, Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice; Lands and Natural Resources; Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; Foreign Affairs; Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, as well as Environment, Science and Technology.

The rest are Youth Development and Empowerment; Works, Housing and Water Resources; Gender, Children and Social Protection; Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts; Labour, Jobs and Employment; Food and Agriculture; Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Trade, Agribusiness and Industry.

The General Secretary of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, described President Mahama's realignment of the ministries as a progressive move that would help address unemployment in the country.

That would be facilitated, particularly by realignments to include job creation, agribusiness and the specific creation of the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment.

Mr Koomson said such a move would ensure that proactive and targeted policies were implemented to pave the way for sustainable development. 

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the GFL General Secretary also commended the President for taking a bold step to merge certain ministries that performed related functions, saying that it was a strong signal that there was a commitment to reduce the cost of running those ministries and channel resources into other priority areas.

Context

By President Mahama’s realignment, some of the ministries that have been revoked are Information, National Security, Parliamentary Affairs, Railway Development, Sanitation and Water Resources, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and Public Enterprises.

Reaction

Mr Koomson said the realigned ministries of Labour, Jobs, and Employment; Trade, Agribusiness and Industry; and Youth Development and Empowerment would be pivotal in driving the country’s economic growth and sustainable development.

He stated that with the realignment of the ministries, what was left was for the President to stay committed to pursuing the viable economic policies his  party rode on  to win the December 7, 2024, election.

"The creation of jobs matters most to us as trade unions, just the same way unemployment threatens the existence of labour unions. Therefore, policies that seek to create a congenial environment for the growth of industries and businesses are acceptable to trade unions because of employment opportunities," he said. 

24-hour Economy

Mr Koomson added that workers embraced the 24-hour Economy initiative of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto because of the positive impact it would have on job creation.

He said although workers would ordinarily not be much concerned about the renaming or merger of sector ministries, they acknowledged that it had a huge potential to cut governance costs and save revenue for the state.

Competent appointees

Mr Koomson also stressed the need for competent individuals to be appointed to serve in those roles.

Particularly, he said, persons who would be appointed to serve in the Ministry of Labour, Jobs, and Employment, as well as the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, must be dynamic individuals who had proven knowledge and track record in those areas.

"It is the expectation of workers that sooner than later, appointments would be made after exhaustive due diligence to identify deserving persons to take charge of the ministries," Mr Koomson said.

He added that although all the ministries were very important for the revival of the economy, workers would be directly affected by the performance of the ministries under which labour, jobs, employment, trade and agribusiness fell. 

24-hour Economy

The GFL Secretary stressed the need for the 24-hour Economy policy to be rolled out as soon as possible because it was a bold initiative that would maximise productivity and create more jobs.

He said with the appointment of Mr Goosie Tanoh as Advisor to the President on the 24-hour Economy, he was confident that the policy would thrive.

“The 24-hour Economy policy must succeed, and that’s why I am pleased with the appointment of Goosie Tanoh. His expertise will be instrumental in guiding this transformative programme,” he said.

“Workers have a vested interest in the success of the 24-hour Economy policy. The government must do everything possible to make it a reality,” he stressed.