President Mahama Reshuffles Cabinet as Dr. Rashid Pelpuo Rates Government Job Creation at B+ Amid Industrial Peace

President John Dramani Mahama has announced a strategic reshuffle of his administration, reassigning key officials to strengthen government performance. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo has been moved to the position of Minister of State for Special Initiatives, with Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum taking over his previous role as Minister of Labour, Employment, and Job Creation. Additionally, Ernest Brogya Genfi has transitioned from Deputy Minister for Defence to become a Presidential Advisor on National Resilience and Emergency Preparedness. These changes come as Dr. Pelpuo defends the government's labor record, revealing that his tenure successfully averted approximately 90% of planned industrial actions through proactive dialogue with labor unions, including the resolution of a potential strike by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA).

In a recent assessment of the administration's economic impact, Dr. Pelpuo graded the government’s job creation efforts as a "B+," asserting that the nation is nearing an "A" grade through a multisectoral approach. He highlighted the ongoing implementation of the 24-hour economy initiative by over 400 private companies and the upcoming launch of the National Workplace Compliance and Safety Management System (NWCSMS), which aims to digitize workplace inspections. Despite this optimism, the government faces calls for deeper scrutiny into social issues. Akosua Manu, a Gender and Social Protection Advisor to the NPP, has urged Parliament to conduct a bipartisan inquiry into maternal health following the deaths of 965 women from pregnancy complications in 2025, stressing that policy commitments must translate into improved healthcare delivery.

Parallel to these executive shifts, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, led by Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has launched its 2026 Mid-Year Performance Review and 2027 Strategic Planning Workshop. The ministry is currently developing a recovery plan to address challenges in human resource capacity and financing to better serve vulnerable populations. Meanwhile, the National Media Commission (NMC) has inaugurated a new nine-member board for the Graphic Communications Group Ltd, chaired by Prof. Samuel K. Hayford. These institutional updates coincide with the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) announcing a month of activities for September 2026 under the theme of upholding information integrity in the digital age.

Reinforcing the need for transparency and institutional integrity, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin recently urged media practitioners to remain committed to accuracy and fairness to combat misinformation. Speaking at a National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) event, Bagbin emphasized that media responsibility is crucial for sustaining Ghana's democracy. This call for ethical governance was echoed by IMANI Senior Fellow Ato Coleman, who advocated for "Ubuntu leadership" grounded in personal values and emotional intelligence. As the Mahama administration moves into the latter half of 2026, the focus remains on aligning resource management with strategic priorities to ensure inclusive growth and national cohesion.