Outgoing finance mnister Ken Ofori-Atta, flanked by his successor, Mohammed Amin Adams, and Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei-Asare
Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Wednesday announced changes to his cabinet, axing the Finance Minister, and others, a statement from the presidency said.
The statement said, “President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has relieved some ministers and deputy ministers of their portfolios in government with immediate effect.”
The president has however, reappointed some of the ministers, in addition to some fresh faces to occupy cabinet positions.
The statement named Mohammed Amin Adams, a Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, to replace Ken Ofori-Atta as Minister for Finance, while Bernard Okoe Boye, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme, replaces Kwaku Agyeman Manu, as Minister for Health.
This reshuffle is the most comprehensive by Akufo-Addo since he first took office in Jan. 2017, removing 13 ministers and 13 deputy ministers. He also appointed 14 new ministers, including reappointments.
“The president personally expressed his sincere appreciation directly to each of the ministers and deputy ministers, who have exited government, for their commitment, competence, dedication and hard work in office,” the statement added.
Since 2022, the president has been under pressure from Members of Parliament of the ruling New Patriotic Party, urging him to sack Ofori-Atta as Minister for Finance amid the country’s economic crisis.
Akufo-Addo pleaded with the MPs to allow Ofori-Atta to stay on to complete negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support the country’s economic reform program.
Last May, the IMF approved a loan of 3.0 billion U.S. dollars to support the government’s reforms, which have started yielding some positive results. Inflation, which was 54 percent in Dec. 2022, reduced cumulatively to 23.2 percent in Dec. 2023, while the local cedi currency has enjoyed relative stability.