Damongo MP Samuel Abdulai Jinapor has questioned the government’s claim that reducing the number of ministers to 60 will save costs, arguing that the financial burden remains the same.
According to him, while the President presents this as a move toward efficiency, many of the responsibilities previously handled by ministers have simply been shifted to the Office of the President.
This, he said, has led to the appointment of numerous Presidential Advisors, Staffers, and Aides—many of whom receive the same benefits as ministers but do not require parliamentary approval.
“The President says he has reduced the number of ministers, but he has increased the number of people working at the presidency. These advisors and staffers enjoy the same privileges as ministers, so where is the cost reduction?” Jinapor questioned.
He explained that some of these appointees, such as Senior Presidential Advisors, receive salaries and benefits equivalent to Cabinet Ministers, while Presidential Aides are treated like Deputy Ministers.
Jinapor also noted that despite merging or scrapping some ministries, their functions still exist and are now being handled within the presidency, meaning the government’s overall spending has not reduced.
He highlighted that the Office of the President now has several high-ranking officials, including a Senior Presidential Advisor on Government Affairs and nearly 10 other Presidential Advisors focusing on different sectors such as the economy, corruption, and diaspora affairs.
“There is even a Director of Agriculture and Agribusiness at the presidency, yet we already have a Ministry of Food and Agriculture. So, what exactly is being reduced?” he asked.
Jinapor also pointed out that while the President has decided not to appoint Deputy Regional Ministers, he has instead assigned 16 Presidential Staffers to oversee regional matters. He questioned whether these individuals are simply Deputy Regional Ministers under a new title.
Additionally, he raised concerns about the growing number of communication-related appointments at the presidency, revealing that there are over 20 people handling government communications, including a Presidential Advisor on Media, multiple Directors and Deputy Directors of Communication, and other specialists.
“What exactly are they all supposed to be communicating?” he asked.
Beyond the issue of government size, Jinapor criticized the President for failing to fulfill key campaign promises, such as ensuring that 30% of Cabinet Ministers are women.
“If the promise cannot be kept, the government should be honest with Ghanaians instead of quietly making appointments without accountability,” he stated.
He concluded that shifting responsibilities from ministries to the presidency does not reduce costs but instead raises concerns about transparency and governance.
He urged the government to be open with citizens and prove that these changes truly lead to efficiency rather than simply renaming roles while maintaining the same expenses.
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