I will appoint new Defence and Environment Ministers after Christmas break — Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that replacements for the late Minister for Defence and the Minister for Environment, Technology and Innovation will be appointed after the Christmas and New Year holidays. He urged the public to ignore speculation suggesting that new appointments are imminent.

Speaking during a meeting with the Ghana Muslim Mission at the Presidency on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, the President said his administration will not rush to fill the vacancies created by the passing of Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Dr Murtala Mohammed.

President Mahama noted that discipline and focus have helped stabilise the economy after a challenging period.

“When we saw the economic numbers and the way things were haywire, we realised that we had bitten quite a lot, and we needed God to give us the strength to manage it,” he said. “It has taken a lot of hard work and fiscal discipline. All appointees have had to be disciplined.”

He reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining a small government, recalling his promise to keep the number of ministers below sixty, a target many believed was impossible.

“We made a promise not to appoint more than sixty ministers, and some people doubted it. As I speak today, we are working with fifty eight because Allah gives and Allah takes. We lost two of our comrades, and those positions remain vacant,” he said.

Addressing rumours circulating about imminent ministerial appointments, President Mahama stressed that no decisions will be made until after the holidays.

“I can see people speculating that I am about to appoint a new Defence Minister or a new Environment Minister. We are not in a hurry,” he said. “I will make those appointments next year after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Those speculating about someone being appointed tomorrow should relax and enjoy Christmas. After Christmas, we will take a decision on those ones.”