Mahama reassigns Labour Minister Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo to Presidency

President John Dramani Mahama has reassigned Labour, Jobs and Employment Minister Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo to the Office of the President as Minister of State in charge of Special Initiatives.

The move is part of a fresh round of ministerial reassignments within the Mahama administration.

A statement from the Presidency issued on Wednesday and signed by Minister for Government Communications Felix Ofosu Kwakye confirmed the changes.

Dr Pelpuo will replace Emmanuel Agyekum at the Office of the President, with Mr Agyekum moving in the opposite direction to take over as Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment.

Mr Agyekum is currently Minister of State in charge of Special Initiatives.

The changes mean both ministers will effectively exchange their current portfolios.

What is changing?

Under the new arrangement, Dr Pelpuo will be responsible for the government's Special Initiatives portfolio at the Presidency.

Mr Agyekum, meanwhile, will become responsible for the Labour, Jobs and Employment Ministry.

The Presidency did not provide further details in the statement on the reasons for the reassignments or specify whether the changes are linked to any new government initiatives.

The announcement adds to changes within the Mahama administration as the government adjusts ministerial responsibilities.

For now, the immediate change is at the level of ministerial responsibility: Dr Pelpuo leaves the Labour, Jobs and Employment Ministry for the Presidency, while Mr Agyekum takes over his former ministry.

Read the full statement below: