GHANA: Row over ‘elephant-sized’ government

The Ghanaian government has defended itself against accusations of running an “elephant-sized” government, after new appointments announced on Wednesday brought the number of ministers and deputy minsters to 110. The ministries of Information, Energy, Agriculture and Local Government will each have three deputy ministers, if the appointments from newly-elected President Nana Akufo-Addo are passed.   […]

The Ghanaian government has defended itself against accusations of running an “elephant-sized” government, after new appointments announced on Wednesday brought the number of ministers and deputy minsters to 110.

The ministries of Information, Energy, Agriculture and Local Government will each have three deputy ministers, if the appointments from newly-elected President Nana Akufo-Addo are passed.

 

Opposition politician Haruna Iddrisu criticised the size of the government, telling local media that it would “feed” off the public purse.  

 

“We never promised a lean government,” Information Minister Mustapha Hamid told media in response to the criticism.

The size of the government was necessary to assist the president’s ambitious development agenda, he added.