A public outrage followed President Nana Addo’s appointment of 110 ministers to serve in his government. Adding to his already sworn in 36 ministers, the President named 54 more ministers and deputy minister nominees to serve under his administration.
Nana Addo’s 110 ministers now comprises 26 heads of ministers, 14 ministers of state, 10 regional ministers, 10 deputy regional ministers and 50 deputy ministers.
According to reports, The United States of America, a country that is economically and financially strong has only 46 ministers. Also, India, one of the most populated countries in the world with a population of 1.3 billion, has 75 ministers. Ghana who is not up to half of the countries mentioned above, is seeking to accommodate 110 ministers, a move which has been described as obscene by the CDD.
Tons of criticisms have been hurled at President Nana Addo and his administration regarding this ‘unwelcome’ development. The move has been described as an outrageous one, with many saying that it is Nana Addo’s way of compensating those who played various roles that saw him as the President of the country.
This idea came up when it was discovered that per the appointments, some ministries will have more than one deputy minister.
Nana Addo has responded to the massive criticisms against him concerning the 110 ministers. According to him, “it is better to have men and women capable of serving the nation’s interests and to work to grow the economy”. The President has said the purpose of appointing a crusade of ministers is to get his government ready for unprecedented challenges that might come their way.
He explained that the problems facing the country, including the persistent decline in the agricultural sector, low growth rate, major issues of corruption and leakage of revenue, require a bold measure to address them. In view of the ballooned challenges in the country, Nana Addo says his administration needs all the hands they can get, for a stable and an unshaken government.
We have a problem and what is the best way? It is better to have men and women capable of serving the nation’s interests and to work to grow the economy… If I succeed, you will soon find out the brouhaha is nothing compared to the success.
Meanwhile there have been much ado over Nana Addo’s unprecedented 110 ministers and deputy ministers. Political experts have attempted to intervene in the situation which has left the country in a state of confusion.
Policy think-tanks in the likes of the Center for Democratic Development (CDD), has called on the President to rescind his decision, and reduce the bloated number of ministers to serve in his government.
Nana Addo’s 110 ministers which has been tagged the highest in Ghana’s political history, has given rise to a season of counter attacks between the leading New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), regarding the issue.
General Secretary of the NDC Asiedu Nketia have taken jabs at the present administration regarding Nana Addo’s 110 ministers. Mr Nketia who opines that a large government is not a prerequisite for good governance; teased that Nana Addo should also go ahead and appoint one minister for each district.
More so, Minority Chief Whip Muntanka Mubarak has also mocked Nana Addo’s unprecedented move, likening it to a game of ‘Chaskele’. Mr. Mubarak described the appointments as most ridiculous and ironical for a man who says has been raising calls for austerity measures.
On the other hand, NPP’s Minister for Information, Mustapha Hamid, has greatly defended the President’s move. According to him, the appointment of a horde of ministers in the Akufo-Addo government was necessary for the fulfillment of the President’s promise to fight corruption in the country.
President Nana Addo amid the controversy remains optimistic about his decision. According to the President who is not bothered about his critics, the end will justify the means as he assured that his government was going to work for the people.
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