After shuffling his regional ministers in 2013, President John Dramani Mahama has returned a number of them to their original duty posts.

A statement from the Flagstaff House, signed by the spokesperson to the President, Ben Dotsei Malor, said the Regional Ministers are to report to their new regions by the 15th of March, 2014. 

The President sparked controversy and confusion in 2013, after the ministers hailing from their indigenous regions were suddenly reposted to unfamiliar territory even before they could settle.

A regional ministerial job is a sensitive position often riddled with ethnic or tribal groups accusing a minister of bias, meddling in traditional matters or siding with one group against the other in matters of conflict.

The President believed, sending a non-indigenous minister to a different region could help cure this unhealthy perception.

At the time, the presidency, explained, the exercise was intended to "foster national unity" and to ensure that regional ministers focused mainly on the political and technical coordination of the development efforts of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs).

The latest directive now means the regional political heads are moving back to their places of origin. It is unclear the rationale behind this u-turn.

Ashanti Regional Minister, Eric Opoku is heading to the Brong Ahafo Region; Central Regional Minister Samuel Sarpong is now to report to the Ashanti Region while Eastern Regional Minister, Helen Ntoso is going back to the Volta Region.

Current Greater Accra Regional Minister, Julius Debrah is also going back to the Eastern Region; Northern Regional Minister, Bede Ziedeng has been moved back to the Upper West Region and he will be replaced by the Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Muniru.

Former Greater Accra Minister, Nii Laryeah Afotey Agbo who is currently Volta Regional Minister is coming back to Accra, while Western Regional Minister, Ebenezer Kwadwo Teye Addo is heading to Central Region with Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo moving to the Western Region where he was originally appointed to.