Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has set a record in his country by appointing 110 ministers. Fifty six of them are full ministers, while 50 are deputy ministers, with the remaining four are ministers of state. In contrast, Nigeria has 35 ministers. Britain has a total of 120 ministers for a population of about 65 million. Mr. Akufo-Addo, who was elected last December, promising to cut expenditure and fight corruption, said the appointments were necessary. But critics believe that it is an over-do for a country the size of Ghana. It is the largest government since the country of about 27 million inhabitants, adopted a democratic constitution in 1992.
“I’m aware that people are concerned about what they see as maybe the cost of this large government,” Mr. Akufo-Addo admitted in an interview on national television.
“It is a necessary investment to make for the rapid transformation of this country.”
He added that ministers “are coming to work, it is not going to be a holiday”.
But the opposition party is less convinced about the benefit of having such a big government.
“We’re confronted with an elephant size of government and Akufo-Addo has proven that he’s a politician rather than a president,” said Haruna Iddrisu, leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in parliament.
Following the new wave of ministerial intake, the agriculture ministry now boasts a minister, a minister of state and three deputies. Four other ministries also have three deputies and a minister. Parliamentary sources told Reuters top government appointees receive monthly salaries of about $4,000 (£3,326) in addition to at least two cars, free fuel, a house, free utilities and personal protection.
“It’s a case of jobs for the boys,” said politics lecturer Geoffrey Molu, whose comment was echoed on social media and by commentators on Ghana’s radio and TV channels.
Government spokesman Nana Akomea said criticism would stop if the government delivers on its ambitious agenda.
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