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The presidential candidate of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) for the December polls, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has thrown more light on his idea of trimming down the number of ministers to a maximum of 40 to reduce the cost of governance and set the tone for an effective restructuring of the public services.

In his opinion on ATV's 'Asem Yi Di Ka program', the number of ministers required at the centre should not be more than 13, including the Finance, Public Service, Foreign Affairs, Transportation (including roads, railways, aviation), Defence, Health and Education portfolios.

The rest are Trade, Human Services (including labour, social welfare, employment and youth affairs), Agriculture, Public Works (including water and housing), Energy and Justice (excluding the Office of the Attorney-General, which is to be made an autonomous public service entity to effectively fight corruption in the system — public and private).

Dr Nduom said reducing the size of government meant certain public services, such as the National Development Planning Commission and the Ghana Statistical Service, should be made more effective in providing policy advice and information.

He said it also required the strengthening of the Civil Service to do more to ensure the effective administration of their ministries.

“I know that this is not a little matter. It is not one that will be easy – it has never been that way, as there are always lobbyists working for representation of one type or the other for their ‘sons and daughters’ in government. Trying to impress party foot soldiers and all that. But it is a task that must be done,” he said.