New Defence, Environment Ministers To Be Appointed 2026

President John Dramani Mahama has said he is in no rush to appoint replacements for the late Defence and Environment Ministers and that those positions will be filled in 2026.

“We will do those appointments next year. After the holiday, the Christmas and the holiday, we will fill those positions,” he made the comments during a meeting with Muslim leaders at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.

Referring to the deaths of Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Dr. Murtala Muhammed, President Mahama urged the public to avoid speculation about replacements.

“We made a promise not to appoint more than 60 ministers. As I speak today we are working with only 58 ministers because unfortunately, they say Allah gives and Allah takes, he took two of our comrades and we haven’t filled those positions yet,” he said while addressing speculations over the vacancies created by the tragic helicopter crash in August that claimed the lives of the two ministers and six other officials.

The President stressed that rumours about imminent appointments were unfounded.

“I can see people speculating he is going to appoint new Defence Minister, new Environment Minister. We are not in a hurry,” he stated.

He further encouraged the public to disregard claims that new ministers would be announced soon.

“So those speculating about somebody going to be appointed tomorrow and all that, just take your time, go and enjoy Christmas and after Christmas we will fill those ones,” he added.

President Mahama also reflected on the importance of disciplined governance, noting that hasty appointments could compromise focus on stabilising the economy.

“When we saw the economic numbers and all that, and I mean the way things were haywire, we realised that we had really bitten quite a lot and that God should help us to have the jaws and the mouth to be able to chew what we had bitten,” he said.

 “And happily, he listened to our prayers. It’s taking a lot of hard work, it’s taking fiscal discipline, we’ve had to be disciplined, all the appointees.”