Ghana’s President Reassigns Sports Ministers After Woeful World Cup Campaign

Accra, Ghana- President John Dramani Mahama has reassigned Youth and Sports Minister Elvis Afriyie Ankrah to the Presidency as Minister of State after a woeful World Cup campaign.  Information Minister, Mahama Ayariga (MP) is to replace him. Even though no mention of the issues at the World Cup was mentioned it is widely believed that these play a major role in the reshuffle. There has been talk of a major ministerial reshuffle for months but this does not appear to be part of President Mahama’s wider ranging plans to reorganize his government.

Media commentators have been calling for the dismissal of the embattled Sports Minister after what seemed like a badly planned Brazil 20114 campaign. Social media was awash with pictures and commentary of stranded Ghanaians in Brazil, some of who were sleeping on the floor and in semi dilapidated rooms. Then there was the issue of the players threatened boycott which prompted the airlifting of $3million in hard cash to pay them their appearance fees.

Even though he had nothing to do with it, the rumors of alleged attempts to fix matches by some officials of the GFA and also the verbal and physical assault brouhaha in the Black Stars camp seem also to have added to the woes of Mr. Afriyie Ankrah.

A statement issued by the Presidency said as part of ongoing changes in his administration, President Mahama has also designated Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Joseph Yammin to the Ashanti Region to take over from Joseph Alexander Ackon who has been reassigned to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection as the second Deputy.

Fifi Fiavi Kwetey (MP), a Minister of State at the Presidency has also been moved to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Vincent Oppong Asamoah, will be moving to the Ministry of Youth and Sports as Deputy Minister.