First 100 days: Akufo-Addo wasteful – Minority

Minority Members of Parliament have described President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as wasteful given the size of his government and other decisions that he has taken in his first 100 days in office.

At a press conference addressed by Member of Parliament for Ketu North, James Klutse Avedzi, on Tuesday April 18, the Minority explained that the 110 ministers appointed by the President had worsened Ghana’s economy due to the huge cost of managing such government appointees.

His comment follows claims by Vice President Dr Bawuami that over the past 100 days, the Akufo-Addo-led government had achieved about 103 successes.

The Vice President mentioned, among other things, on Monday April 17 that the restoration of fiscal discipline and macro stability, re-profiling of Ghana’s public debt with the issuance of USD2.25 billion sovereign bonds of up to 15 years at 19.75%, and the rise in the country’s gross international reserves from $6billion $8billion as some of the achievements of the government in the past few days.

But speaking at the counter-press conference, Mr Avedzi said: “The decision to appoint this elephant-size government has caused consternation among an overwhelming majority of Ghanaians. The explanations offered for it have been jaw-dropping. We have been told by the government propagandists that the appointment of this humongous number of ministers is a way of protecting the public purse. What a paradox!

“Another weak explanation, this time proffered by the president himself, is that the economy is in such a dire situation that requires this large number of ministers to accomplish the task of putting it back on track. Another paradox.

“We wish to state plainly that what the president has done is far from protecting the public purse. It constitutes a direct raid of the economy of the taxpayer. Maintaining the salaries for this large army of ministers will severely burden the poor taxpayer. These appointments translate into 110 bungalows, 110 salon cars, 110 V8 Toyota Land Cruisers, 110 guards, 220 police guards in their bungalows.

“More importantly, it represents a direct breach of his pledge to cut waste in public expenditure. He has acted in a way that will introduce more waste in government finances. Simply put, President Akufo-Addo has been wasteful and has not been candid with Ghanaians. Mr President, prune down your 110 ministers now.”