Mahama’s Lean Government Claim Is A Hoax! …Abu Jinapor Says He Has Appointed 100 Ministers

The former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has accused President Mahama of appointing hundred ministers, despite his promise to Ghanaians to form a lean government.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament last week, Wednesday, Mr Jinapor, who represents the people of Damango in the Legislative House, contended that President Mahama, apart from the sixty ministers he promised to appoint, has also appointed more presidential staffers who are going to draw salaries from the national purse.

The vociferous MP and former minister regretted that despite all the appointments the president has made so far, he seems not satisfied and rather making more appointments.

He specifically mentioned the appointment of Dr. Valerie Sawyer, Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of Government Affairs, who holds the rank of a Cabinet Minister. He noted that her salary, benefits and office expenses are equivalent to those of a Cabinet Minister, who also serves as a Member of Parliament.

The MP went on to list a series of other appointments, including Presidential Advisors on the Economy, 24-Hour Economy, Special Aide to the President, National Anti-Corruption Program, and Diaspora Affairs.

The former Minister for Lands also mentioned the appointment of Presidential Staffers for the Vice President, Black Star Experience and Diaspora Affairs, as well as five Policy Advisors to the Vice President.

“Mr. Speaker, he goes on to appoint Presidential Advisor, Presidential Staffer and Special Aide to the Vice President, Presidential Staffer for Black Star Experience and then Presidential Staffer for Diaspora Affairs,”Samuel Abu Jinapor stated.

“The list goes on and on. I won’t be surprised if very soon we have a Presidential Advisor on ‘nkuk?nkitinnkiti, or ‘Okada’ business,” he said satirically.

Abu Jinapor condemned the appointment of 16 Presidential Staffers in charge of the 16 regions of the country, arguing that these positions effectively function as deputy Ministers of State.

He questioned the rationale behind these appointments, especially when the president had previously stated his intention to reduce the number of deputy Regional Ministers.

“Mr. Speaker, I want to submit that these Presidential Staffers in charge of the 16 regions of our country, in essence, as it relates to the cost on the national Exchequer, are in fact indeed and in substance, deputy Ministers of State,” he asserted.

He also pointed out the extensive media and communication team appointed by the president, including 1 Presidential Advisor for Media, 4 Directors of Communication, 5 Deputy Directors, 2 Communication Specialists, 5 Technical Communication Assistants, 1 Media Aide, 1 Assistant Media Liaison Officer, and 1 Communicative Consultant.

“Mr. Speaker, I’ve done the Mathematics, and I want to submit that the President has appointed 100 Ministers and Deputy Ministers,” Jinapor said, emphasizing the financial strain these appointments place on the national budget.

Samuel Abu Jinapor, who previously served as deputy Chief of Staff, stressed that his critique was not partisan but based on his experience in government. He called for greater prudence in governance to reduce unnecessary expenditure and ensure efficient use of public funds.

“I do this not from a partisan lens, but as somebody who had the privilege and honour to serve as deputy Chief of Staff. I know how it works. In terms of the cost on the National Exchequer, these appointments are excessive,” he said.

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