Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been strongly criticised by the Minority in Parliament following his recent pledge to limit the number of ministerial appointments to 50 if he is elected as Ghana’s next president.
This criticism comes in the wake of the NPP’s manifesto launch, held in Takoradi on Sunday, August 18, where Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia made this promise as part of his vision for more efficient governance in the country.
During the manifesto launch, Dr. Bawumia indicated that an effective government does not necessarily require a large number of ministers.
He suggested that his administration if given the mandate, would streamline government operations by reducing the size of the ministerial team to just 50. This, he argued, would not only enhance efficiency but also reduce the cost of governance, a point that has resonated with some sections of the public who are concerned about the perceived bloated size of the current government.
However, this pledge has not been received warmly by all including Ahmed Ibrahim, the Deputy Minority Whip, who cast doubt on the feasibility and sincerity of Dr. Bawumia’s promise.
Speaking on behalf of the Minority, Ahmed Ibrahim raised concerns about the number of officials currently working under Dr. Bawumia in his capacity as Vice President, suggesting that this number already exceeds the total number of ministers appointed by the Akufo-Addo government.
This, he argued, calls into question Dr. Bawumia’s commitment to his own pledge of reducing ministerial appointments.
“[At] Dr. Mahamudu Bamwumia’s office alone, the number of people, technical advisors, spokespersons who are there, are more than the 123 ministers that he is talking of. When you see anybody who has no official appointment and is using V8, the person works in Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s office. And that is why the land cruisers have now become common.
“You cannot operate with 50 ministers and allow over 100 special aids in your office. That too must be worked on.”
Ahmed Ibrahim also expressed deep disappointment over what he said was the failure of Dr. Bawumia to tell Ghanaians how he will service the country’s debt.
“You have collapsed the economy and the most serious thing that I was waiting to hear from them was how we are going to deal with the challenge of servicing our debt. I didn’t hear that thing from them. It means they were not trustworthy, and they were not straightforward with Ghanaians.
“Let Ghanaians know that, look, we are not servicing our debt now. We are not paying our loans now. We have been given a period to pay in 2026. Therefore, in 2026, when we start paying our debt, this will be a hardship and challenge because we are deferring all our suffering.”
