President John Dramani Mahama has refuted claims that his administration has appointed over 100 presidential staffers, clarifying that only 30 political appointees have been named so far.
In a speech during the swearing-in of 13 Deputy Ministers, President Mahama debunked the misinformation, reaffirming his commitment to a lean, efficient, and fiscally responsible government.
President Mahama said, “So far, I’ve appointed 27 presidential staffers and three Directors of important governmental initiatives, bringing the total number of political appointees to 30. These appointments are still pending approval from the Council of State, and the final number will be far lower than what has been suggested.”
He further emphasized that this smaller group of appointees was part of his administration’s strategy to reduce the size of government and ensure efficiency in the public sector.
Mahama pointed out that the previous administration had appointed a staggering 336 political appointees to the Presidency, highlighting the contrast with his government’s approach.
“While we are in the process of recruiting supporting staff to enable the full functioning of our presidency, the numbers will come nowhere near the army of people that were hired under the previous government,” President Mahama added.
“Our focus is on creating a lean government, which is about ensuring fiscal discipline and efficient use of public resources.”
President Mahama further explained that his government’s commitment to a lean government goes beyond just reducing the number of ministers and appointees.
He stressed the importance of balancing government expenditure with the responsibility of citizens to fund national development through their tax contributions.
“Our commitment to a lean government is not merely about reducing the number of political appointees,” he said. “It’s about exercising fiscal discipline and ensuring that public resources are used efficiently and responsibly.”
Mahama also expressed his gratitude to Parliament for the earliest-ever approval of ministers, which has enabled the swift implementation of government policies aimed at fulfilling his promises to the people of Ghana.
“We’ve achieved the earliest approval of ministers by Parliament under the Fourth Republic, allowing our ministers to begin their work promptly,” he said.
“I thank Mr. Speaker and all Honourable Members of Parliament for their support in making this possible.”
By: Shadrack Odame Agyare | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
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