Former Minister for Lands, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has said the argument that the John Mahama led-administration has reduced the size of government cannot hold water because the reality is that the new arrangement has rather increased the size and cost of government in a camouflaged style.
Abu Jinapor argues that Presidential Staffers, Presidential Advisors and Presidential Aides have their salaries, emoluments and retirement benefits pegged at the same level as deputy ministers therefore even if President Mahama shrinks the number of ministers and deputy ministers to 60 as promised, the fact that the same government has hugely increased the number of Presidential Staffers, Presidential Advisors and Presidential Aides at the Jubilee House it negates the arguments of a shrunken administration to save cost.
“Mr. Speaker, I’ve done the Mathematics, and I want to submit that the President has appointed 100 Ministers and Deputy Ministers,” Abu Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Damongo made the remarks in Parliament on Wednesday, March 5, during the debate on State of the Nation Address.
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Abu Jinapor questioned how the appointment of 16 Presidential Staffers in charge of the 16 regions of the country would cut down the cost of running a government when it is public knowledge that these positions effectively function as Deputy Ministers of State and they would be enjoying same financial entitlements as though they were Deputy Ministers of State
“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,” Abu Jinapor asserted.
He continued: “Mr. Speaker, he goes on to appoint Presidential Advisor, Presidential Staffer in Special Aid to the Vice President. Presidential Staffer for Black Star Experience. And then Presidential Staffer for Diaspora Affairs.
“The list goes on and on. I won’t be surprised if very soon we have a Presidential Advisor on ‘nkuk ɔ nkitin nkti, or ‘Okada’ business,” he said sarcastically”, Jinapor added.
He pointed out other of such appointments, such as Dr. Valerie Sawyer, Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of Government Affairs, who holds the rank of a Cabinet Minister and argued that her salary, benefits, and office expenses are equivalent to those of a Cabinet Minister who also serves as a Member of Parliament.
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Samuel Abu Jinapor listed other appointments, including Presidential Advisors on Economy, 24-Hour Economy, Special Aid to the President, National Anti-Corruption Program, and Diaspora Affairs. He 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.
“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,” Abu Jinpor noted.
He spoke about the extensive media and communication team appointed by the President, including one Presidential Advisor for Media, four Directors of Communication, five Deputy Directors, two Communication Specialists, five Technical Communication Assistants, one Media Aide, one Assistant Media Liaison Officer, and one Communicative Consultant.
