Presidential staffers to jump from 998 to 1,614 - Okudzeto Ablakwa

The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over moves by the government to increase the number of presidential staffers at the Jubilee House from 998 to 1,614 for the 2019 financial year.

In April 2018, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in compliance with Section 11 of the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463), presented to Parliament a total of 998 as workers at the Jubilee House.

Debating the 2019 budget statement in parliament on Wednesday, 21 November 2018, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa questioned the rationale in recruiting an additional 616 presidential staffers at the presidency despite the public outcry over the size of the Akufo-Addo government.

He said: “I am deeply, deeply worried about the refusal of President Akufo Addo’s government to listen to the people of this country. When the presidential staffers' list of 998 was presented to this house, there was national outrage, we are informed that the Office of Government Machinery, government, intends to employ 1,614 people.

“Appendix 7: we are informed that the Office of Government Machinery, government, intends to employ 1,614 people… [With] 998, Ghanaians were outraged, and you are increasing it to 1,614? … What is even worrying is that the office of the Special Prosecutor has been given a ceiling to employ only 12 people … The people of this country are against this obese government.”