Former Defence Minister says newly appointed Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, could be reassigned if President John Dramani Mahama carries out what he described as a broader Cabinet reshuffle later this year.

Speaking on The Pulse on JoyNews on Friday, August 7, while discussing President Mahama's recent ministerial changes, Dominic Nitiwul said he was not surprised by Dr Zanetor Rawlings' appointment but believes she is better suited for a different ministry.

He disclosed that Dr Rawlings had previously been considered for a ministerial position even before her latest appointment.

"I think that even the first time that she was not made a minister, she was supposed to be made a Minister of State in one of the ministries. I will not mention because it will be too obvious."

According to Mr Nitiwul, her appointment to the Environment, Science and Technology Ministry did not come as a surprise.

"So I'm not surprised that they're sticking her there."

However, he suggested that her current role may only be temporary.

"I think that when the President wants to do a proper reshuffle that the country is expecting, I expect her to move. Everybody knows the ministry that she will fit in, so I expect that she will move."

Mr Nitiwul said that many Ghanaians had expected a more extensive reshuffle and said public pressure on the President to reorganise his government continues to grow.

"The country is demanding the reshuffle. The country is saying that a lot of the ministers are not performing."

"Even the NDC people are mentioning names that the people are not performing, they need to be removed, and they are surprised," he added.

According to the former Defence Minister, many expected President Mahama to replace more ministers during the latest changes.

"People are really surprised that the President has not done any reshuffle because it was obvious that the President was going to take out a lot."

Mr Nitiwul, however, acknowledged that removing ministers who are also Members of Parliament presents political challenges.

"It's very difficult to reshuffle a Member of Parliament and ask him to go and sit in Parliament, without giving him any position."

He said President Mahama is now facing the same dilemma that confronted previous administrations.

"They were going after President Akufo-Addo, saying he didn't do reshuffles. But I'm sure he's now learned the hard lesson that removing a Member of Parliament completely and asking him to go and sit in Parliament, you find that his political career is blown away."

Mr Nitiwul added that the President's own appointments have made any future reshuffle more difficult.

"He has entangled himself. He's the one who has done his appointment. So we are all waiting."

Despite the challenges, he believes another Cabinet reshuffle is inevitable and warned that delaying it could create problems within the governing party.

"The country is demanding a reshuffle. And trust me, if he doesn't do a reshuffle before the end of this year, he's going to get a lot of problems, not even from the opposition like us, but from his own party."

Mr Nitiwul reiterated his expectation that Dr Zanetor Rawlings would be reassigned when those changes are made.

"I am clear in my mind that by the time we do that reshuffle, they might move Zanetor Rawlings to a more appropriate ministry."

President John Dramani Mahama has earlier today nominated Klottey Korle Member of Parliament, Dr Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings, as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, as part of a cabinet shake-up aimed at filling key government positions.