Minister of State in charge of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has dismissed claims that the current administration has appointed an excessive number of ministers and staffers.
He insists that the NDC government will be the smallest in Ghana’s history.
Speaking at a post-special Cabinet meeting press briefing, Kwakye Ofosu set the record straight on government appointments, emphasizing that President John Mahama remains committed to reducing the size of government and cutting costs.
“Let the records be set straight that any claim that President Mahama has appointed 100 ministers and is hiding some in the presidency is blatantly false,” he stated.
He explained that the number of ministers currently stands at 56, significantly lower than in previous administrations.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu also provided details on the number of presidential staffers and political appointees at the Office of the President. He noted that only 30 individuals currently hold positions as presidential staffers or aides, compared to 336 political appointees under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration in 2022.
“Everybody appointed as a presidential staffer has been publicly named. Currently, there are 27 presidential staffers and three additional aides assigned to specific interventions,” he said.
“This is in sharp contrast to the NPP’s administration, where in 2017, they had 27 staffers and 256 political appointees, which later increased to 336 by 2022.”
Highlighting the cost-saving benefits of a leaner government, Kwakye Ofosu pointed out that reducing the number of ministers from 126 to 60 alone would save the government millions of cedis in vehicle purchases and other expenses.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu urged Ghanaians to ignore what he sees as false narratives by the NPP suggesting that the government is bloated, reiterating that President Mahama’s administration remains committed to reducing waste and running a fiscally responsible government.
