[ 2017-03-16 ]

Professor Stephen Adei

Professor Adei wants better, stronger justification for 110 ministers
Ghanaian Governance guru Professor Stephen Adei
wants the government to provide a stronger
justification for requiring 110 ministers, the
highest-ever by any administration.

He suggested the Information minister Mustapha
Hamid's explanation that government needs more
ministers to implement an ambitious development
agenda and tackle an economy in shambles is
tenuous.

The minister has stressed the NPP never promised a
lean government during the campaign. He has urged
Ghanaians to judge the government by results and
not the size of the executive.

In President Nana Akufo-Addo's 4th ministerial
list, the 67-days old government plans to add 54
more ministers of state and deputies to 56 others
it nominated in previous three batches.

Critics say the government appears to be simply
doling out jobs to loyalists when it should be
protecting the public purse as it promised in the
2016 campaign.

There will be Minister of State at the Ministry of
Agriculture and a Minister of Agriculture with
three deputies. It does not end there as there is
also a Minister of Fisheries And Aquaculture with
a deputy.

Government has nominated a Minister of State in
charge of Tertiary Education along with a Minister
of Education who will also have two deputies.

The President has already created six new
ministerial portfolios - Monitoring And
Evaluation, Special Development Initiatives,
Business Development, Zongo and Inner City
Development, Regional re-organisation, and
Planning ministers.

'Everybody is surprised,' the former GIMPA Rector
weighed in on the backlash on social media
following the announcement. He said he would have
preferred to see more technical appointees in
government institutions and less politicians.

Prof. Stephen Adei said the numbers represent
'extra expenses which can make a huge difference'
on the public purse.

He preferred to give the president the benefit of
the doubt, maintaining he is 'a really thoughtful
guy' and said 'time will tell' if 110 appointees
will produce results.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

... go Back