A Political science lecturer at the University of Ghana has asked government to learn from the private sector how so much is achieved with slim staff.
Professor Ransford Gyampo told Evans Mensah on Joy FM’s Top Story Wednesday, the appointment of 110 Ministers by the government will not “inspire confidence” in the citizens.
“Governments all over the world that have developed, extricated their people from the quagmire of poverty don’t pride themselves in big governments,” he criticised the huge number of appointees.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced a list of 50 deputy Ministers and four (4) more Ministers of state, bringing the total number of Ministers to an unprecedented 110.
Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid
The President is the first in the history of Ghana to have a huge government followed by former President John Agyekum Kufuor with 93 Ministers.
The rest are;
(a) Dr Kwame Nkrumah (CPP) – 41 Ministers
(b) Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia (PP) – 49 Ministers
(c) Dr Hilla Limann (PNP) – 54 Ministers
(d) Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings – 82 Ministers
(e) Professor John Evans Atta-Mills – 75 Ministers
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has 110 Ministers
Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, has explained the decision was necessitated by the President’s “extraordinary ambitions” to transform the economy.
He said at a news conference in Accra the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) never promised a “lean government.”
Mr Hamid said the Ministers are expected to strengthen the weaknesses of civil servants.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor had 93 Ministers
“The President is reputed to be the person who has presented the most ambitious plan…one district, one factory, one village, one dam…and therefore it is important that he assembles a team to realise that,” he said.
Sections of Ghanaians have taken to social media to register their dissappointment with the decision, believing the government has failed to protect the public purse as it promised.
But Mr Hamid said at the end of the NPP’s four-year term, the citizens are not going to question how many people the President appointed to achieve the goals with, but rather how much he achieved.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings had 82 Ministers
Professor Gyampo who has authored several articles criticising the functioning of governments said a President who prides himself of seeking the welfare of the people should not burden them more.
He wondered why government would spend taxpayers’ money on free accommodation, V8 vehicles, allowances, duty allowances, entertainment allowances, gardeners, and stewards for all of the 110 Ministers and claim it is coming to protect the public purse.
Former President John Mahama had 84 Ministers
“Go to the private sector to learn how they use fewer staff to achieve monumental things,” he said, adding “no amount of explanation will justify why we have this kind of government.”
Professor Gyampo also described as “misguided” the explanation by government that civil servants are responsible for the weakening of public institutions.
“If the civil servants are weak why do you keep them there and continue to pay them and try to create another civil service, another parallel organization? he asked.
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