Contributors on Joy FM/MultiTV’s newsfile programme Saturday were united in their description of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government as ‘obese,’ but found nothing constitutionally wrong with the decision.
The contributors who come from various professional backgrounds urged Ghanaians to be modest in their criticism of the President since they reserve the power to vote him out in 2020 if they are dissatisfied with his work.
Commentary on President Akufo-Addo’s appointment of 50 deputy Ministers and four (4) Ministers of state has been everything, but positive. The latest appointments bring to 110 the total number of appointees to serve in government.
He is on record as the first President in the history of Ghana to have an ‘elephant’ size government followed by former President John Agyekum Kufuor who had 93 Ministers.
Criticisms from political opponents, sections of Ghanaians and civil societies have been incisive against government.
In a reaction, the Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid said the President had not promised a “lean government” during his 2016 campaign.
President Akufo-Addo in a recorded interview with state-broadcaster, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), said the herculean nature of the work that needs to be done requires a team of more men and women.
He dismissed argument that the state will spend more on the Ministers, saying if the economy is bolstered and jobs are created, Ghanaians will completely forget about the large size of his government.
The President’s interview which was aired Friday on GTV appears to have done little to douse the fear of the citizens about the luxuries his 110 Ministers will enjoy at the expense of the taxpayer.
But Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik Kwaku Baako Jnr., said said that although the size of government is “really big” the President should be given the opportunity to fix the challenges in the economy the way he deems fit.
Deputy Communications Director of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mike Ocquaye Jnr., said there is no evidence to back the claim that an ‘elephant’ size government is a breeding ground for corruption.
He said it was never the case that because former President John Mahama had a small team, there was less corruption in his government.
On his part, Bawku Central Member of Parliament (MP), Mahama Ayariga said the President’s decision is politically wrong, although he cleared him of a breach of the constitution.
He wondered why the President will appoint a Minister of State in charge of Tertiary when the Education Ministry has several agencies such as the National Council of Tertiary Education (NCTE) to help with policy directions.
Executive Director of Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, entreated Ghanaians to back the President since he has his own agenda to execute.
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