Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (R) and President John Dramani Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has refuted assertions that he has appointed over 100 presidential staffers.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of some of his ministerial and deputy ministerial appointees on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Mahama indicated that he has so far appointed only 30 presidential staffers.
This number, he indicated, is far less than the over 336 presidential staffers appointed under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government, which he promised he would not get close to by the end of his appointments to the presidency.
“The same commitment to composing a lean government has found expression in the appointments made at the presidency so far. So far, I’ve appointed 27 presidential staffers to various roles and three persons as directors of important governmental initiatives, bringing the total number of political appointees so far to 30. This list of 30 is pending approval from the Council of State.
“At the last count, there were 336 political appointees at the presidency under the previous government. While we’re 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,” he stated.
He added, “Our commitment to a lean government is not merely about reducing the number of ministerial appointees or reducing the numbers at the presidency. It is grounded in our firm belief that government must exercise fiscal discipline by ensuring that public resources are used efficiently and responsibly.”
The president’s remarks come on the back of claims by the Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, that, despite promising Ghanaians he would form the leanest government, he has appointed a total of 100 ministers and deputy ministers.
Making his submission on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, he claimed that this has resulted in significant expenses for the national treasury, contrary to what the president promised.
“President Mahama has formed arguably one of the largest governments in the history of our country in terms of cost to the national exchequer. Why do I say this? Take, for example, the appointment of Dr Valerie Sawyer as Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of Government Affairs. Her rank is equivalent to that of a cabinet minister who also serves as a Member of Parliament. This means her salary, emoluments, and conditions of service are the same as those of a cabinet minister who is also an MP.
“Mr Speaker, the president has appointed a presidential Advisor on the Economy, a Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy, a Presidential Advisor and Special Aide to the President, a Presidential Advisor on the National Anti-Corruption Programme, and a Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs,” he stated.
He continued: “Mr Speaker, he has also appointed a Presidential Advisor, a Presidential Staffer and Special Aide to the Vice President, a Presidential Staffer for the Black Star Experience, and a Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs. Additionally, he has appointed five policy advisors to the vice president.
“Mr Speaker, I have done the mathematics, and I make this submission not from a political standpoint, but as someone who had the privilege and honour to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff. I understand how these appointments impact the national treasury, and based on my calculations, the president has effectively appointed 100 ministers and deputy ministers,” he concluded.
BAI/AE
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