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ACCRA (Reuters) - Ghana's President John Atta Mills announced his first cabinet reshuffle on Monday, making minor changes but leaving the key portfolios of defence, energy, finance and foreign affairs unchanged.

The most significant change in the reshuffle, the first since Mills took power in January last year, was the replacement of Interior Minister Cletus Avoka with Martin Amidu, a deputy justice minister under longtime ruler Jerry Rawlings.

Mills's team came to power with the prospect of Ghana soon joining Africa's oil-producing club but also facing a vast public deficit and rampant inflation at a time when the global economy was in turmoil.

The government of the cocoa- and gold-producer has brought inflation nearly down to a target of 15 percent but Mills says the economic recovery remains his priority.

Amidu, regarded as a distinguished lawyer, was the vice presidential candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress in 2000 when Mills lost to former President John Kufuor.

Mills also moved Information Minister Zita Okaikoi to the Tourism Ministry. She was replaced with John Tiah, a journalist and a leading Member of Parliament.

Enoch Teye Mensah, an influential minister under Rawlings and currently a leading Member of Parliament, has been appointed to the portfolio of employment and social welfare.

Other portfolios affected by Monday's reshuffle were Water Resources, Works and Housing; Women and Children's Affairs and Youth and Sports.