110 Ministers is a waste of state resources - Tetteh Chaie

Former National Democratic Congress (MP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma Central, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, has criticised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for appointing 110 ministers to help him manage the economy.

The huge number of ministers which is now known as an “Elephant-size government”, in his view is not necessary and described it as a waste of state resources.

He described the action of the President as unnecessary and added that only a few ministers can get the job done with the rest walking in the crowd.

Tetteh Chaie said former President Mahama appointed only a few ministers but ensured that they delivered.

He again advised the President to be in control and must not allow himself to be pushed over by party gurus if he wants to succeed in his administration.

He said the appointments are jobs for party members which must not be envisaged by the President.

The President has come under fire for appointing of 110 ministers when he earlier promised to cut superfluous government spending.

The appointment last week of 50 deputy ministers and four ministers of state in addition to the existing 56 roles make it a record for Ghana and the largest government since the country, of about 27 million inhabitants, adopted a democratic constitution in 1992.

But in defense he said “I’m aware that people are concerned about what they see as maybe the cost of this large government,” Akufo-Addo admitted in an interview on GTV.

“It is a necessary investment to make for the rapid transformation of this country,” he said and added that ministers “are coming to work, it is not going to be a holiday”.

Akufo-Addo was elected in December on a manifesto to fix a host of economic problems and fight corruption.