Pressure Group, Occupy Ghana, has joined the many political pundits calling on President Akufo Addo to downsize the number of Ministers appointed to serve under his government.
The pressure group in a statement suggested that the current number of appointees in the Akufo-Addo led administration will rather increase the level of corruption in the country instead of eradicating it.
"We are however concerned at the apparent overlap in the portfolios of a number of ministers, and at the number of deputies named for several ministries.
It is our firm view that a government bureaucracy must be big enough to achieve the aims of the governing administration, yet lean enough to not waste the resources of state. Both the President in his State of the Nation Address, and the Minister of Finance in his budget presentation, lamented the dire state of the nation’s economy. Can Ghana with its present economic situation afford 110 ministers? Can we not do more with less?
The problems that beset this nation are known to all. Paramount among them is the issue of corruption. In creating such a huge bureaucracy, have we not increased the chances of corrupt officials plundering the little that we have left as a nation?"
Read full statement below
March 17, 2017
OCCUPYGHANA® PRESS STATEMENT
OCCUPYGHANA® QUESTIONS THE SIZE OF THE EXECUTIVE AND DEMANDS STRICT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Like a great number of Ghanaians, we at OCCUPYGHANA® look with great concern at the number of ministerial appointments that the President has made to date. As of 16 March 2017, there were 110 ministerial appointments.
We are aware of the plans of the new administration to enact significant changes to the way the business of government is done, in enacting its vision to help this nation develop. We are also aware that some of these changes require the requisite manpower to achieve success.
We are however concerned at the apparent overlap in the portfolios of a number of ministers, and at the number of deputies named for several ministries.
It is our firm view that a government bureaucracy must be big enough to achieve the aims of the governing administration, yet lean enough to not waste the resources of state. Both the President in his State of the Nation Address, and the Minister of Finance in his budget presentation, lamented the dire state of the nation’s economy. Can Ghana with its present economic situation afford 110 ministers? Can we not do more with less?
The problems that beset this nation are known to all. Paramount among them is the issue of corruption. In creating such a huge bureaucracy, have we not increased the chances of corrupt officials plundering the little that we have left as a nation?
In his inaugural address, the President promised to protect the national purse. The appointment of 110 ministers who, in comparison to the average Ghanaian, will be earning a considerable amount of money in salaries, allowances and benefits over the next 4 years (in addition to enjoying a range of ex-gratia benefits when they leave office) does not sound to us like a diligent attempt to protect a sorely-depleted purse.
The economy of this great nation can only grow if we let the private sector flourish. Large bureaucracies are not known to facilitate the growth of any private business sector. Do we not run the risk of crowding out and suffocating a struggling private sector with a gargantuan government bureaucracy?
We therefore call on the President to reconsider the size of his ministerial appointments. Are there positions that may be consolidated? Do the ministers with several deputies really need that very many? Do we still need deputy regional ministers when there are district, municipal and metropolitan chief executives?
Additionally, as part of the Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation’s duties, a set of key performance indicators (“KPIs”) should be urgently developed for each ministerial position, published on the ministerial website, and assessed by the President, Vice President and Minister for M&E on an annual or preferably biannual basis. Such KPIs must be designed to ensure there is no overlap of duties so as to duplicate responsibilities between ministers. The government should commit to dismissing any ministers who are found wanting under such an assessment scheme, and to a constant and robust evaluation of the effectiveness of ministers and ministries. The breadth of skills and experience from the private sector that have been introduced by this government should mean that many in the ministerial ranks adapt easily and perform well under such accountability.
It is going to take all citizens working together and harnessing our creativity and skills to move our dear nation forward. In doing so, in current financially constrained circumstances, we must find a way to do more with less. Bigger is not always better. In this case, bigger might in fact be wasteful and corruption-inducing.
As always, for God and Country.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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Kwekwe is right, that is why the streets of Europe, and America are safer. No rampant criminal activities like Ghana because they distribute money through creating of employment and benefits to people. You wont find pick pocket and petty ***barred word*** in developed countries because of some of these factors.
110 ministers of state so what? I don't see nothing wrong with it. Are those people not residents and citizens of Ghana. Many people are unemployed in Ghana. In America and Europe they try to create employment so everybody has jobs, people are payed to stand at stores to stand and greet customers; People receive unemployment, and disabled benefits just to keep money in peoples pocket. It all goes a long way to build their economy and elevate poverty.
What is patient? Tell me! If the 110 ministers would agree to be patient and wait until next year before they begin to receive their salaries and allowances, then probably we would be patient with nana Addo. Do you think those of us who voted for the government did so for the sake of being patient. We were not patient with the past government that's why we booted then out expecting that nana Addo would do thing better to alleviate our plight. How can you come into power for just two months, and wouldn't be patient for the economy to pick up, then you might increase the size of government, by which time Ghanaians would have assessed and known that nana has turned this around so there would be no complaints. But you think party faithfuls need to be receiving huge salaries but the masses who rather needs to be supported should exercise patience. Most hardworking teachers and nurses as well as other workers are receiving only a little over 1000 Ghana. These ministers are going to receive about 16000 ghana. Tell me who should be patient, workers or ministers? Adjura, if nana Addo is your uncle, go and advise him to be patient in appointing so many ministers instead of coming on this platform to come and plead for patience. The national coffers should be properly used to benefits everyone and not few politicians.
The Ministry of Procurement was a smart move by our Short President to shu.t u.p Kennedy Agyapong. He criticizes governments about procurement processes so now that his girl friend is the minister for procurement he wont talk about it anymore. M'aseree saaaa NB But how can peacefmonline barre words like sh.ut u.p in my original post.
The Ministry of Procurement was a smart move by our Short President to ***barred word*** Kennedy Agyapong. He criticizes governments about procurement processes so now that his girl friend is the minister for procurement he wont talk about it anymore. M'aseree saaaa
OccupyGhana is part of the problem we are facing in Ghana. George Andah, a staunch member of OccupyGhana is part of the 110 ministers. Will George Andah resign to reduce the number of ministers, even if by just 1?
Mr. President, please tear down and cut the deputy minister appointments to only the very essential and pertinent ones like the securities, education and health, period.
Ghanaians voted this man into power. Now if he says this is what he needs let us please be patient. I am sure if it doesn't work he will change his style. I think he should be given space. Some support his decision, some don't. He must have his own convictions. When Nehemiah in the bible decided to build the wall he had opposition. Some even thought the wall will break down, but he remained focused. He cannot listen to all voices. There are many who want him to fail. When Nehemiah fixed his eyes on his vision he succeeded. I am sure Nana will not fail. Some have come out openly to say they will do everything legally possible for this government to fail. Let us support him with prayer. Let him listen to the voice that kept him moving all these years in spite of the vilification. It has taken a long time for him to get to where he is now. Ghana must work. Please.
What is the stance of the Christian council and Catholic Bishop's Conference?
It's about time all of us stopped the political bias stance we take and say it as it is, irrespective of who is running the government, after all, Ghana doesn't belong to cross section of politicians who are just previlleged to serve the nation at a given period, it belong to all of us. Nana Addo would not hire so much people, if Ghana were his own private business and therefore he pays his workers from his own pocket. He would have probably used only 10 ministers. The same way the past government walked is what he is also doing. In fact, he could end up being the worst considering the way he has started. You have reduced the teacher allowances you promised but you are ready to pay 110 minsters an average of 16000 Ghana a month each. You the economy can sustain this but it cannot sustain Ghanaians who were recruited by the past government before leaving office so, you sacked them. What a dumb leader.