Merge some ministries to reduce government spending – Dr. Kojo Asante
Dr. Emmanuel Kojo Asante, Director of Advocacy at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has joined calls for the government to cut costs by reducing the number of ministers and appointees.
Dr. Asante stated that the current number of ministries, with 86 ministers and deputy ministers, is a huge drain on the public purse at a time when the government is desperate for economic relief.
He claims that the solution to the government’s financial problems is as simple as reducing the number of ministers and deputies.
Speaking on The Point of View on Citi TV in response to CDD-proposals Ghana’s for reducing the size and cost of running government, Dr. Asante acknowledged that, while some ministries are considered important and relevant, the country’s current economic dynamics necessitate some pruning to save the government some funds.
“In our practice, some ministries have become sort of important and relevant, and if you’re going to rationalize them, you have to think more deeply about how you merge them so that they don’t lose their essence.”
He also stated that the government does not need to create ministries with assigned ministers to carry out certain policies, but that they can be supervised and carried out by a larger ministry.
“The notion that having a ministry and a minister will deliver the agenda for you has proven to be incorrect. A ministry was not established to manage Free SHS, for example, but the policy is being implemented and funded, so I disagree with the notion of establishing one.
“There have been numerous examples of these things failing. It also comes at a high cost to the taxpayer because we waste money because every time a ministry is established, departments and directors are required, which is problematic because they come at a cost.”
According to the CDD’s proposals, reducing the size of ministries will “reduce the amount paid to ministers in salaries by GH8,528,316.00 annually, a figure that is 33.73% of the total amount paid in salaries to ministers, assuming the figures from the Prof. Yaa Ntiamoah-Baidu Committee’s report on Emoluments for Article 71 office holders.”
The proposals also called for the “dissolution of the Ministries of Public Enterprises, Parliamentary Affairs, and Railways because their functions are integrated into the functions of other ministries.”
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