The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has challenged President Nana Akufo-Addo to immediately cut the size of his government to 40 Ministers and Deputy Ministers.
This, he said, will bring efficiency by reducing government expenditure and help balance the budget.
Mr Mahama said the reduction of the number of ministers will make no difference to the already lackluster performance of the Akufo-Addo administration.
The number of ministers serving under the Akufo-Addo government jumped from 110 to 123 ministers in February 2019, following the appointment of ministers and deputy ministers to the six newly created regions.
Speaking on Monday at a closed-door meeting with some disappointed business owners and importers in his office, the former President noted, in reaction to concerns about government’s increasing budget overruns, that, “there can be no justification for some of the ministerial portfolios created by this administration.
“The Senior Minister, Minister of State in the Office of Vice President, Minister of State in the Office of Senior Minister, Ministers for Procurement, Monitoring and Evaluation, Business Development, Special Initiatives, Aviation, Railway Development are all an unnecessary charge on the public purse,” the former President said.
He also argued that with the completion of the creation of new regions, the Ministry for Regional Re-organisation had been rendered redundant.
Mr Mahama called for the reduction in the number of ministers responsible for Security.
Former President Mahama described as unconscionable the appointment of over 60 Deputy Ministers and pledged to drastically cut the size of government if Ghanaians give him their mandate to serve a second term from January 2021.