Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, has questioned the Mahama administration’s description of itself as a “lean government,” arguing that the true size of government should be measured by the total number of political appointments across the public sector rather than the number of ministers and deputy ministers alone.
His comments come amid ongoing debate over the cost of governance, with opposition figures contending that a reduction in ministerial appointments does not necessarily result in lower public expenditure.
The discussion follows recent remarks by Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who dismissed claims that staffing costs at the Presidency had increased under the current administration.
Government Size Should Be Measured Broadly
According to Mr Jinapor, any meaningful assessment of the size of government must take into account appointments made across ministries, departments, agencies, diplomatic missions and other state institutions.
He argued that political and administrative appointments throughout these structures contribute significantly to the overall cost of governance and should therefore be included in any evaluation of government expenditure.
The Damongo MP cited Ghana’s foreign missions as an example, claiming that the number of deputy ambassadors has increased under the current administration despite its commitment to operating a lean government.
He maintained that such appointments carry financial implications and should be considered when assessing both staffing levels and public spending.
Reduced Number of Ministers Does Not Tell the Full Story
Speaking on Channel One TV on Monday, June 15, Mr Jinapor argued that focusing solely on the reduced number of ministers creates a misleading impression of efficiency.
“Why do we have a so-called lean government today, and yet the cost of running that government is much bigger?” he questioned.
He further claimed that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed six deputy ambassadors during his tenure, while President John Dramani Mahama has appointed 18.
According to Mr Jinapor, although the Constitution grants the President the authority to determine the structure and composition of government, it is inaccurate to describe an administration as lean based solely on the number of ministers.
Concerns Over Cost of Governance
The MP argued that the broader network of appointments across government institutions suggests a structure that may be larger in practice than it appears on paper.
He maintained that the cumulative effect of such appointments has implications for the public wage bill and overall government expenditure, factors that should be considered when evaluating claims about the size and efficiency of government.
The debate over the cost of governance is expected to continue as both government and opposition figures present competing interpretations of staffing levels and public spending under the current administration.
