President Mahama Swears In Mahama Ayariga, Dr Zanetor Rawlings as Ministers of State
President John Dramani Mahama has sworn in Mahama Ayariga as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, following their approval by Parliament on Thursday.
The two ministers took the Oath of Allegiance, the Oath of Office and the Oath of Secrecy at a ceremony held at the Jubilee House on Saturday, where the President charged them to serve with integrity, humility and accountability.
He said the oaths were not ceremonial formalities but solemn commitments to uphold the Constitution and place the interests of the Ghanaian people above personal, political and sectional considerations.
“Public office is a privilege and not a right. It requires us to place the national interest above personal convenience, political consideration and sectional interest,” President Mahama stated.
The President said Mr Ayariga assumed office at a critical stage in Ghana’s decentralisation agenda and tasked him to make local government more responsive to the needs of citizens.
He urged the minister to strengthen accountability and financial discipline within Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, improve spatial planning, tackle sanitation challenges and restore order in cities and towns.
President Mahama also called on him to engage traditional and religious institutions with fairness and impartiality, describing them as indispensable partners in national development and social cohesion.
For Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the President said her ministry carried the responsibility of protecting Ghana’s natural resources while advancing science, technology and innovation.
He noted that her medical background provided a unique perspective on the link between environmental degradation and public health, stressing that polluted rivers, unsafe air and poor sanitation ultimately affect the health of citizens.
The President charged her to intensify efforts against illegal mining, strengthen environmental regulation, promote scientific research and support innovation in agriculture, healthcare, energy, climate resilience and manufacturing.
President Mahama urged the two ministers to work closely together, noting that sanitation, waste management, land-use planning and environmental protection required coordinated action between their ministries.
He further reminded them that Ghanaians expected integrity, accessibility and results from public officials, and encouraged them to manage public resources prudently while ensuring that every decision served the public interest.
The President expressed confidence that Mr Ayariga and Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings would discharge their responsibilities with courage, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the people of Ghana.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
