998 Staff: Akufo-Addo prioritises results over lean government – Gabby

Gabby Asare Otchere Darko, a senior member of the New Patriotic Party and a former Executive Director of policy think tank Danquah Institute (DI) has justified the 998 staff at the Jubilee House, stating that President Akufo-Addo prioritises results over a lean government.

His justification comes after the presidency released a list of 998 staff working at the Jubilee House.

The tall list of Presidential staffers has angered most Ghanaians with many accusing the President and his government of deceit and hypocrisy after the NPP complained about the 768 staffers which was maintained by the Mahama administration.

Although some government spokespersons have tried to justify the numbers and attributed the situation to the thick number of civil servants left by the erstwhile Mahama administration, the explanation has failed to suffice.

Some notable civil society groups including IMANI Ghana have criticized the numbers saying it is a drain on the national purse.

But in a Facebook post, Otchere Darko stated that Akufo-Addo has never put lean government before an efficient government.

Below is his full post on Facebook

“Akufo-Addo has never put lean government before a government that delivers. I recall in 2006, we were working on a speech and when I mentioned ‘lean government’, he told me point blankly that our situation in Ghana calls more for a well-resourced government machinery that can deliver.

“To drum home the point, he said the whole of Brong Ahafo had one senior prosecutor when he was appointed AG. “The consequences of that is the delay and denial of justice to both the accused and victims of crime. I want to focus on the delivery machinery, on results.”

“I don’t think he has changed. None of his 3 Manifestos stressed on the concept of small government. To him the capacity and ability to deliver is what matters most. Competent delivery is, after all, cost-effective.