Former President John Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has challenged the president, Nana Akufo-Addo to immediately cut the size of his government by 40 ministers and deputy ministers.
That, he pointed out, would bring efficiency and effectiveness by the reduction of government expenditure and balance of the budget because the reduction of the number of ministers and deputy ministers would make no difference to the already lackluster performance of the government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The number of ministers serving under the Nana Akufo-Addo-led administration jumped from 110 to 123 ministers and deputy 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, former President Mahama, in reaction to concerns raised about the government’s increasing budget overruns, noted that, “there can be no justification for some of the ministerial portfolios created by the NPP administration.
“The Senior Minister, Minister of State at the Office of the Vice President, Minister of State at the Office of the Senior Minister, Ministers for Procurement, Monitoring and Evaluation, Business Development, Special Initiatives, Aviation, Railway Development are all an unnecessary charge on the public purse.
“With the completion of the creation of new regions, the Ministry for Regional Reorganisation has been rendered redundant; I am challenging the President Nana Akufo-Addo to reduce the number of ministers responsible for Security.
“It is unconscionable the appointment of over 60 deputy ministers and I pledge to drastically reduce the size of my government if the citizenry give me their mandate to serve a second term from January 2021,” former President Mahama assured. –myjoyonline.com
