Three speakers at a public forum in Accra have criticised the huge size of government appointees under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo‘s administration. In their view, such a huge size of the government would put pressure on the public purse and burden the taxpayer.
The speakers were two senior lecturers at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ransford Gyampo and Dr Seidu Alidu, and a Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Dr Michael Kpessah-Whyte.
They spoke on the theme: "The size of Government: Implications for Good Governance and the Public Purse" at a public forum organised by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) in partnership with the Centre for Social Democracy, Ghana (CSD) in Accra last Wednesday.
The forum brought together politicians, lecturers, professors, students and the media.
Size of government
In the view of Prof. Gyampo, the President could use few people to achieve a lot.
“The economy of the nation can only grow if we let the private sector flourish. Large bureaucracies are not known to facilitate the growth of any private business sector. Do we not run the risk of crowding out and suffocating a struggling private sector with a huge government bureaucracy? I, therefore, call on the President to “reconsider” the appointment and reduce it to 30 ministers,” he appealed.
He mentioned that the large government size could present Ghana with additional problems including pressure on national purse, poverty educational and health issues but the President took such a decision because he needed to satisfy many who assisted him during the election.
Redundancy
Suggesting solutions, he said some ministries including that of transport, road and highways, aviation and railway could be merged, adding that the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs is also redundant in the scheme of affairs.
He mentioned that the government should have strengthened the bureaucracy and public service rather than creating huge appointments which would be redundant.
Efficiency
Dr Alidu indicated that “the government have not thought about the potential of inefficiencies, improper coordination and the impact that they might have on the bureaucracy which is already weak and also the cost that it would add to the national purse.Efficiency is when you use a small number of government to achieve a lot”.
"It is not about the end justifies the means because if you use huge government to deliver huge or ambitious promises, it is not efficiency," he insisted, saying “I do not agree with the President that the end justifies the means.”
Proposals
Dr Kpessah-Whyte stated that the President appointed a huge government to solve the problems it inherited but regretfully all the solutions the President had proposed are not comprehensive enough to solve those problems.
Source: Daily Graphic
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Nana your detractors are at work so you better starts vigorously of your good governance to keep those old evil dwarfs mouth shut because my heart is breed of pain when some characters are rebuking you just because of political expediency,we know what you can do that why we voted for you
Extremely disappointed in the leadership of Akufo Addo. I voted for him with so much hope and optimism. I never imagined he would turn out like this. His presidency has been one big reward and loyalty scheme for party faithfuls and contributors. He has lost his mind with those 130 ministers. Can't wait to vote him out and I say that as someone who actually cried tears of joy when he won. The comments here are so sad. You can support the NPP and still have a mind able to see common sense and when something is wrong. Not everything has to be evaluated through political lenses.
With all these explanations going on so those so-called professors have not heaard.....this is common sense issue, the president said the more you spread the task for for people the more effective, this ministers will not squeeze money into their pockets because they are not even the last bosses on their own and need to explain and report their actions and inactions to others till it gets to the president on daily bases, not the small government where ministers Will act on their own powers without even the president knowing and this reduces corruption again did these three hear the president said we are suspending the importation of new cars for ministers and ministries? Do they know know how the president came to that conclusion and the amount of dollars that has been saved...... please shut your mouth if you don't understand such policy you are all professors does not mean you know and understands everything .....SILENCE IS LEARNING. TALKING IS TEACHINGS BUT remember you can not teach something you don't understand and knows the out come please let it unfold you don't understand the president and his vision
How many ministers did these three guys want the President to appoint? Do they know the size of work to be done? What do we expect from Kpessa Whyte and others? Prof Gyampo why don't you call on the President and find out about the appointments? Did you want him to appoint 3 ministers? Are you the one doing the job? When next you guys become Presidents don't appoint ministers at all. If only you have guts to stand for election. We are tired of these criticisms which are taking us no where. How do you expect NDC members to say anything good about the president? Just don't waste our ears. The President has work to do.
Thought they would come out with better suggestions like how we empower Metropolitans, districts and regions in terms of capacity and resources to deliver to our people. Too much power vested in central government in Ghana. Why only ministers discussed, we have a bloated Parliament, State Institutions, Boards and other entities we can reduce to be efficient. Is the Civil Service doing it's mandate? Intellectuals should have better debates instead of one sided ones. Most of countries they compare to have a strong private sector delivering most services and their state local governments are efficient.
These are very myopic way to analyze a complex issue. Kpesah-Whyte was once in government and I don't know how much he contributed and how much he benefited from the State. I was very sad when I hear people who should know better make such shallow arguments. Some even go to the extent of comparing Ghana to countries such as USA and UK. We have a completely different culture with Ghana having a people (leadership) most of who have no regard for integrity and are ready to steal from the state with the slightest opportunity. The UK and USA have a system in place and a people high on the integrity scale that can enable only 20 ministers each to run the affairs of government. These issues are deeper than merely talking about salaries and legal benefits. If all our so-called honourables will be paid twice as much as they receive now and spare us the ***barred word*** that take millions of dollars from our state coffers, our nation can hire 200 ministers and still do well.
The huge government appointees have made me loose confidence in the president. You , the president spoke about the mess you inherited, then moved ahead to create your own mess just from the beginning. Also, you have appointed too many Ashanti's. That's not good
The NPP is best at criticizing yet it cant tolerate criticism. The speakers where rather giving advice to the NanaAddo government.
the speakers are wastage bigotries. waste of time and resources. they can go to hell. ***barred word*** professors
You don't just read an article and not try to digest the infornation writer(s) are trying to put across and its veracity but rather choose to impune polarized politics to it. The truth hurts but must be told because Nana is on the path of failed leadership and government that might take us back as a nation some twenty plus years all in the name of not want to step on any toes but rather satisfyING every party faithful who one way or the other had contributed in cash (especifically) or in kind. But to do your good selves (SKEBS, Eric & Kwesi) some good, go and research into the political backgrounds of our three learned gentlemen (Prof. Gyampo, Ds..Alidu and Kpessah-Whyte who spoke at the forum before your baseless accusations and allegations. Be wise, buy the truth and sell it nit.