Ghani cabinet


President Ashraf Ghani's cabinet was the cabinet of Afghanistan from 29 September 2014 until 15 August 2021.

First tenure cabinet formation (2014–2020)

September – November 2014: Old Karzai cabinet stays in acting position

November 2014 – January 2015: Replacement of former Karzai ministers

After the International Conference on Afghanistan in London, on 11 December 2014 Ghani announced that the rest of the former Karzai cabinet was substituted by their deputies.
MinistryName of candidateTime of takeover
Foreign AffairsAtiqullah Atifmal 11 December 2014
FinanceMohammad Mustafa Mastoor 11 December 2014
Commerce and IndustryMozammil Shinwari 11 December 2014
Women’s AffairsSayeda Mujgan Mustafawi 11 December 2014

January – March 2015: First round of nominees

All acting ministers who were not replaced by a permanent minister stayed in office.
MinistryName of candidateAffiliationTime of takeover
Interior AffairsNur ul-Haq Ulumipro–Abdullah1 February 2015
Foreign AffairsSalahuddin Rabbanipro–Abdullah1 February 2015
FinanceEklil Ahmad Hakimipro–Ghani1 February 2015
Public HealthFerozuddin Ferozpro–Abdullah1 February 2015
Mines and PetroleumDaud Shah Sabapro–Ghani1 February 2015
Rural Rehabilitation and DevelopmentNasir Ahmad Durranipro–Abdullah1 February 2015
RefugeesAlami Balkhipro–Abdullah1 February 2015
Haj and Religious EndowmentsFaiz Mohammad Osmanipro–Ghani1 February 2015
NDSRahmatullah Nabilpro–Ghani
pro-Karzai		was already in office as acting director
Higher EducationBari Sediqi unknownafter 17 March 2015

March – April 2015: Second round of nominees

April – July 2015: Some new appointments of acting and nomination of new ministers

July 2015 – November 2016: Some cabinet changes and a full cabinet after two years

Since late 2015, many ministers came into doubt by the parliament due to accusations of corruption and professional ineffectiveness. On 2 November 2015, Interior Minister Nur ul-Haq Ulumi escaped the parliament's no-confidence vote because of not reaching a two-thirds majority, as did Communications and IT Minister Abdul Razaq Wahidi on 4 January 2016. On 13 July 2016, Women's Affairs Minister Delbar Nazari narrowly stood in power after a vote of confidence.
MinistryName of ministerAffiliationTime of voteResult
InteriorNur ul-Haq Ulumipro–Abdullah2 November 2015approved
Communications and ITAbdul Razaq Wahidipro–Abdullah4 January 2016approved
Women's AffairsDelbar Nazaripro–Abdullah13 July 2016approved

November 2016: Votes of confidence in parliament leads to seven dismissals

In November 2016, a series of votes of confidences were held in the Wolesi Jirga. All in all, seven ministers were sacked due to allegations of shortcomings in their performance and their failure to spend all allocated budgetary funds on time while further six ministers were accused too on but got the vote of confidence. First on 12 November, these were Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, Public Works Minister Mahmoud Baligh and the Minister for Martyrs, Disabled, Labor and Social Affairs Nasrin Oryakhil. On 13 November, the dismissals of Education Minister Assadullah Hanif Balkhi and Transportation and Civil Aviation Minister Mohammadullah Batash followed. On 14 November, Higher Education Minister Farida Momand was unseated, and on 15 November, Communications and IT Minister Abdul Razaq Wahidi was also dismissed by the parliament. However, since 12 November, President Ghani asked the dismissed ministers to continue their job until the Supreme Court makes a final decision. On 16 November further three ministers were voted confident by parliament.
MinistryName of ministerAffiliationTime of voteResult
Foreign AffairsSalahuddin Rabbanipro–Abdullah12 November 2016rejected
Public WorksMahmoud Balighpro–Ghani12 November 2016rejected
Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and DisabledNasrin Oryakhilpro–Ghani12 November 2016rejected
FinanceEklil Ahmad Hakimipro–Ghani13 November 2016approved
EducationAssadullah Hanif Balkhipro–Abdullah13 November 2016rejected
Transportation and Civil AviationMohammadullah Batashpro-Ghani
pro-Dostum		13 November 2016rejected
JusticeAbdul Basir Anwarpro–Abdullah14 November 2016approved
Higher EducationFarida Momandpro–Ghani14 November 2016rejected
Urban DevelopmentSadat Mansoor Naderipro–Ghani14 November 2016approved
Communications and ITAbdul Razaq Wahidipro–Abdullah15 November 2016rejected
Agriculture, Irrigation and LivestockAssadullah Zamirpro–Ghani15 November 2016approved
Counter NarcoticsSalamat Azimipro–Ghani15 November 2016approved
Energy and WaterAli Ahmad Osmanipro–Abdullah15 November 2016approved
RefugeesAlami Balkhipro–Abdullah16 November 2016approved
EconomyAbdul Sattar Muradpro–Abdullah16 November 2016approved
Public HealthFerozuddin Ferozpro–Abdullah16 November 2016approved

November 2016 – December 2017: Further cabinet changes as half of cabinet only in an acting role

December 2017: Votes of confidence in parliament for acting ministers

No candidates were presented for the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Information and Culture and Education.
MinistryName of ministerAffiliationResultTime of takeover
InteriorWais Ahmad Barmakunknownapproved4 December 2017
Borders and Tribal AffairsGul Agha Sherzaipro–Ghaniapproved4 December 2017
Public WorksYama Yaripro–Ghaniapproved4 December 2017
EconomyMohammad Mustafa Mastoorpro–Abdullahapproved4 December 2017
Transportation and Civil AviationMohammad Hamid Tahmasipro–Ghaniapproved4 December 2017
Agriculture, Irrigation and LivestockNasir Ahmad Durranipro–Abdullahapproved4 December 2017
DefenceTariq Shah Bahrameepro-Ghaniapproved4 December 2017
Rural Rehabilitation and DevelopmentMujib Rahman Karimiunknownapproved4 December 2017
Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and DisabledFaizullah Zakipro-Ghani
pro-Dostum		approved4 December 2017
Higher EducationNajibullah Khwaja Omaripro–Ghaniapproved4 December 2017
Communications and ITShahzad Gul Aryoubiunknownapproved4 December 2017
Mines and PetroleumNargis Nehanunknownrejected4 December 2017

January 2018 – March 2020: More cabinet fluctuation

On 27 January 2019, Ghani issued a decree to merge the Ministry of Counter Narcotics with the Ministry of Interior, and on 19 February 2020, he issued a decree splitting the Ministry of Water and Energy into the separate independent authorities of the National Water Affairs Regulation Authority and the Authority for the Regulation of Energy Services. Before the 2019 presidential election, there had been 15 acting ministers, including those dealing with security.

Second tenure cabinet formation (2020–2021)

March – October 2020: New cabinet nominees and acting ministers after Ghani's inauguration

Despite the parallel inauguration of Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani as presidents on 9 March 2020 and the subsequent uncertainty and threat of a parallel government, Ghani in his inauguration speech said he would postpone cabinet appointments for two weeks to allow for the necessary opportunity for cooperation and alignment with all prominent political factions involved in the election. In practice, he started the following appointments almost three weeks after the inauguration. Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal and Haneef Atmar were nominated as Finance and Foreign Affairs Minister respectively and started in their positions in an acting role in early April, while also approving Ahmad Zia Saraj in his role als head of NDS and Tahir Zuhair nominating as Information and Culture Minister but who only started acting on 9 June 2020. Ghani also nominated Mohammad Shakir Kargar as chief of staff and Fazal Mahmood Fazli as General Director of the Office of Administrative Affairs as cabinet members. Further nominations of cabinet posts were delayed. Until 2 June 2020, Hasina Safi, Ahmad Jawed Osmani, Mahmud Karzai and Ajmal Ahmady were also introduced as acting Women's Affairs, Public Health and Urban Development Minister and Governor of the Central Bank respectively, followed by the nominations of Rangina Hamidi as Education and Haroon Chakhansuri as Mines and Petroleum Minister and other cabinet posts until 14 June 2020. All cabinet posts up to this point were appointed by Ghani's camp.
On 17 May, Ghani and Abdullah signed a power-sharing agreement. The agreement stipulates that Abdullah will introduce candidates for half the cabinet posts, including for some key ministries, and that provincial governors will be appointed based on an agreed rule. On 9 July, Abdullah introduced a list of cabinet nominees to Ghani: Massoud Andarabi for Interior Affairs, Fazel Ahmed Manawi for Justice, Bashir Ahmad Tahyanj for Labor and Social Affairs, Noor Rahman Akhlaqi for Refugees and Repatriation, Abas Basir for Transport and Civil Aviation, Sadat Mansoor Naderi for Economy, Anwar ul-Haq Ahady for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Kanishka Turkistani for Higher Education, Mohibullah Samim for Borders and Tribal Affairs, Nisar Ahmad Ghoryani for Commerce and Industry and Masooma Khawari for Communications and Information Technology, and Najib Aqa Fahim for the State Ministry for Martyrs and Disabled and Mohammad Mustafa Mastoor for the State Ministry for Peace. Other news outlets named fewer or more ministries allocated to Abdullah while a lot more were still up to discussion. No appointments were made by the Abdullah camp by early August 2020, but rather Ghani re-nominated the already acting Assadullah Khalid and Massoud Andarabi for the key ministries of Defense and Interior, although it was reported that this was a joined decision by both Ghani and Abdullah, at least in the case of Andarabi as the Minister of Interior. In late July it was reported that Ghani had rejected five ministerial candidates due to various reasons. During all this time, the ministries without new nominations were still headed by the previous ministers and acting ministers.
On 31 August 2020, the Administrative Office of the President announced that nine ministers and one state minister had been appointed by Abdullah who immediately started in an acting role. These minister nominees have largely been the same as those from his introduction on 9 July, with the exception of Kanishka Turkestani who was replaced by Abas Basir as nominee for the Ministry of Higher Education, who in turn was replaced by Qudratullah Zaki as nominee for the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. Also, Mastoor was reintroduced as Minister of Economy instead of being nominated for the State Ministry for Peace. This role went to Sadat Mansoor Naderi who earlier was actually nominated as Minister of Economy. Najib Aqa Fahim and Azizullah Ariafar have not been nominated for their intended role of State Minister for Martyrs and Disabled and Director General of the Independent Commission for Administrative Reform and Civil Service. The appointed ministers have been officially introduced at the Presidential Palace on 15 September 2020.
MinistryName of ministerAffiliationTime of takeover
FinanceAbdul Hadi Arghandiwal pro-Ghani31 March 2020
NDSAhmad Zia Saraj pro-Ghani1 April 2020
Mayor of KabulMohammad Daoud Sultanzoypro-Ghani1 April 2020
Chief of staffMuhammad Shakir Kargar pro-Ghani2 April 2020
Foreign AffairsHaneef Atmar pro-Ghani4 April 2020
Administrative AffairsFazal Mahmood Fazlipro-Ghani9 April 2020
Disaster ManagementGhulam Bahauddin Jilanipro-Ghani13 May 2020
Parliamentary AffairsZia ul-Haq Amarkhilpro-Ghani13 May 2020
Women's AffairsHasina Safi pro-Ghani18 May 2020
Good GovernanceNur ul-Haq Ulumipro-Ghani19 May 2020
Public HealthAhmad Jawed Osmani pro-Ghani31 May 2020
Urban DevelopmentMahmud Karzai pro-Ghani1 June 2020
Central BankAjmal Ahmady pro-Ghani3 June 2020
Information and CultureTahir Zuhair pro-Ghani9 June 2020
EducationRangina Hamidi pro-Ghani10 June 2020
Mines and PetroleumHaroon Chakhansuri pro-Ghani11 June 2020
Public WorksMohammad Yama Shams pro-Ghani16 June 2020
Public WorksNajibullah Yamin pro-Ghani6 October 2020
Local GovernanceShamim Khan Katawazaipro-Ghani18 June 2020
DefenceAssadullah Khalid pro-Ghani18 July 2020
InteriorMassoud Andarabi pro-Abdullah18 July 2020
Hajj and Religious AffairsMohammad Qasim Halimi pro-Ghani6 August 2020
Rural Rehabilitation and DevelopmentMujib Rahman Karimi pro-Ghani17 August 2020
Labour and Social AffairsBashir Ahmad Tahyanj pro-Abdullah31 August 2020
Commerce and IndustryNisar Ahmad Ghoryani pro-Abdullah31 August 2020
Transport and Civil AviationQudratullah Zaki pro-Abdullah31 August 2020
Agriculture, Irrigation and LivestockAnwar ul-Haq Ahady pro-Abdullah31 August 2020
Communications and ITMasooma Khawari pro-Abdullah31 August 2020
Borders and Tribal AffairsMohibullah Samim pro-Abdullah31 August 2020
JusticeFazel Ahmed Manawi pro-Abdullah31 August 2020
Refugees and RepatriationNoor Rahman Akhlaqi pro-Abdullah31 August 2020
Higher EducationAbas Basir pro-Abdullah31 August 2020
EconomyMohammad Mustafa Mastoor pro–Abdullah31 August 2020
EconomyKarima Hamed Faryabi pro–Abdullah14 September 2020
PeaceSadat Mansoor Naderiunknown3 September 2020