President John Dramani Mahama has announced the separation of the Youth and Sports Ministry as part of his government’s effort to reduce the number of ministries.

In a directive issued on January 11, 2024, the Mahama-led government has split the ministry into two independent institutions, the Youth Development and Empowerment Ministry and the Sports and Recreation Ministry.

These newly autonomous ministries are part of a broader restructuring initiative that reduces the number of ministries from 30 to 23.

The Youth and Sports Ministry has been a merged institution since 1981, initially known as the PNDC Secretary for Youth and Sports.

It transitioned into a full-fledged ministry in 1993 when Ghana returned to constitutional rule under the late President Jerry John Rawlings.

The late Enoch Teye Mensah, a former Member of Parliament, was appointed as the first Minister for Youth and Sports, marking the beginning of the ministry's role in Ghana's governance structure.

EE/MA