— Upper East NDC on Dr Ayine’s nomination 

By Anthony Adongo Apubeo

Bolgatanga, Jan 12, GNA – The Upper East Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed confidence in the Minister-Designate for Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, to transform the justice system and ensure fairness for all. 

“This nomination is a testament to your unwavering dedication, exceptional leadership, and outstanding contributions to the nation,” a statement, signed and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga by Mr Jonathan Salifu, the Regional Communications Officer of the party.  

“We are confident that your expertise, vision, and commitment to justice will bring transformative progress to this critical sector.” 

The statement expressed profound gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for entrusting the ministry they described as vital to the Member of Parliament for the Bolgatanga East constituency and pledged the support of the region to enable him to succeed. 

“The Upper East Regional Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress, under the leadership of Regional Chairperson Alhaji Mumuni Bolnaba, extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East, Hon. Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, on his well-deserved nomination as Minister-Designate for Attorney-General and Minister for Justice 

“As you embark on this significant journey, we have no doubt that you will champion reforms that will strengthen the justice system and enhance its accessibility for all. 

“The Upper East Region stands firmly with you, praying for God’s guidance, wisdom, and protection as you take on this noble responsibility. “We wish you every success in this exciting new chapter,” it added. 

Meanwhile, Dr Ayine via a Facebook post, had reacted to his nomination, captioned it as “Leadership, Justice, Equality and Fairness to all.” 

Dr Ayine was nominated alongside two others as cabinet minister-designate by President Mahama to mark his first set of ministerial nominations since he assumed office on January 7, 2025. 

The two others are Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister-Designate for Finance and Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister-Designate for Energy. 

Dr Ayine is the current MP for the Bolgatanga East constituency and a senior lawyer with three decades of experience in practice as well as a founding partner of Ayini and Partners Law Offices. 

He previously served as the Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice under the first term of President Mahama. 

He holds a PhD in Law from the Stanford University Michigan Law School, and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Ghana. 

He has also lectured at the University of Ghana Law School for many years. 

GNA 

Kwasi Kwarteng, former spokesperson for the Ministry of Education

Kwasi Kwarteng, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education during the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has challenged the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to demonstrate its ability to manage the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme effectively.

According to Kwarteng, during the previous administration, the NDC consistently criticized the quality of food provided to Free SHS students, claiming it was substandard.

He argued that now that the NDC is in power, they should back their criticism with action by ensuring students are fed luxuriously, even suggesting the use of high-end establishments.

“They criticized the food we provided for Free SHS students, saying it wasn’t good enough. Now that they’re in power, let’s see them feed the students in grand style. Perhaps they can take them to places like Kempinski and Lancaster three times a day so everyone can see how capable they are of managing the education sector,” Kwarteng said in an interview on Oyerepa TV on January 9, 2025.

He continued: “This is the nature of organic politics we practice here. They heavily criticized the policy because they felt the previous government was benefiting from it. Now that they are in power, they should show us what they can do. Maybe on Saturdays, they can also treat the students to luxurious meals at these five-star establishments in the morning, afternoon, and evening.”

The erstwhile opposition the NDC criticized the then ruling government of supplying SHS students with expired foods.

AM/KA

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Veteran journalist Kweku Baako Jnr

Veteran journalist Kweku Baako Jnr was put on the spot by renowned broadcaster Dr. Randy Abbey, who asked him why he chose to marry later in life.

The conversation occurred during a panel discussion on Good Morning Ghana on January 9, 2024, which marked Dr. Abbey’s final episode as a host.

The broadcaster compared Baako to his close friend Kwesi Pratt Jnr, who married much earlier in life.

“I’ will still ask the question I want to ask you. How come, despite the fact that you guys were like twins and everything, Kwesi married early, and you married late?” Dr. Abbey asked.

Kwesi Pratt attempted to deflect the question, asking, “Is it a question to ask?” However, Dr. Abbey pressed on, and Baako obliged with a response.

The veteran journalist, who is the Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, candidly admitted that his youthful lifestyle influenced his decision to delay marriage.

“Lack of self-discipline. I was virtually a rolling stone. Yeah, I was a rolling stone. And that affected my opportunities to access decent women,” Baako confessed.

He added that despite his past, he eventually found the perfect partner, “Thankfully, I got a woman just the right fit-for-purpose.”

Dr. Abbey humorously remarked, “That’s why you are still paying school fees, while Kwesi has grandchildren.”

Baako joked in return, saying, “Korle Gono has taken all my children,” prompting further laughter when Dr. Abbey quipped, “That’s why you don’t drive past there [Korle Gono]. Because you hear, ‘Daddy, Daddy.’”

Watch a video of the show below:

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The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has issued a strong statement on the role of politicians in the development of the Ashanti Region.

During a courtesy call by the World Bank Vice President for Western and Central Africa at the Manhyia Palace on January 10, 2025, the Asantehene highlighted the persistent delays in projects meant for Kumasi and attributed these delays to bureaucratic hurdles in Accra.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II emphasized the need for the project office to be located in Kumasi rather than being managed from Accra.

“I don’t know what is delaying it, but the project office should be here. We shouldn’t be running projects here when we have the office in Accra. The project unit should be here, and the project coordinator must also be resident here, so that at least the stakeholders, the district assemblies, will be able to coordinate to know how it goes. So these are issues that I want us to look at properly to fruition,” he said.

He insisted that the project coordinator should be a resident of Kumasi to ensure better coordination and efficiency.

“I cannot depend on the politicians for my development. I don’t want to depend on them,” he stated, expressing his disappointment with the way Ashanti politicians have managed the city and its people.

The Asantehene also called for a social contract to effectively drive development, stressing the importance of infrastructure. “In terms of development, if we have the infrastructure, everything will be fine. I don’t want to depend on politicians, so let’s have a social contract and then we do it,” he added.

The World Bank Vice President responded positively to the Asantehene’s concerns, acknowledging the need for localized management to overcome bureaucratic delays and ensure the timely completion of projects in Kumasi.

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Bright Simmons, the Honorary Vice President of IMANI Africa, has analyzed President John Mahama’s decision to cut the number of ministries from 30 to 23, suggesting that it is more of a response to public sentiment than a real step toward improving government efficiency as reported by Myjoyonline on Sunday, January 12, 2025.

In his article The Stressful Difference between Cutting Ministries & Cutting Costs in Ghana, Simmons cautioned that this restructuring may not lead to actual cost savings.

Simmons noted that the public’s dissatisfaction with a large government is largely driven by its optics, not its actual cost.

He pointed out, “Cutting down the number of ministries and ministers is thus an exercise in ‘reading the sentiments’ of the public, and in being ‘responsive,’” rather than a genuine attempt to streamline the government.

The restructuring, according to Simmons, is a symbolic gesture aimed at showing a government that listens to the people, rather than addressing deeper inefficiencies in the public sector.

He also highlighted the inconsistency of past attempts at ministry restructuring, with decisions often being arbitrary and not based on any clear logic.

While smaller ministries may see cuts, Simmons emphasized that larger government agencies, such as the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Education Service, are the real drivers of government spending.

He suggested that substantial savings would come from reforming these sectors, rather than from reducing ministerial titles.

Simmons concluded by urging the government to look beyond cosmetic changes and focus on real reform to tackle inefficiencies and reduce government expenditure.

President John Dramani Mahama has revoked the Civil Service (Ministries) Instrument, 2021 (L.I. 12), ushering in a new era of governance with the introduction of the Civil Service (Ministries) Instrument, 2025 (E.I. 1).

This restructuring is expected to streamline operations within key government ministries and ensure a more efficient public administration system.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Special Aide to the President, said the realignment has reduced the Ministries from 30 to 23, reflecting President Mahama’s commitment to an agile, efficient government that is better equipped to serve Ghanaians.

In addition to the traditional ministries, the new instrument also introduces ministries aimed at promoting youth empowerment, gender equality, and cultural growth.

It also merged others while some Ministries including Information,
National Security, Parliamentary Affairs, Railway Development, Public Enterprises, and Sanitation and Water Resources have been revoked.

The new Executive Instrument, which came into force on January 9, 2025, establishes a revised list of ministries, focusing on critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and national security.

Among the ministries now firmly part of the civil service are the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Education, as well as newer institutions like the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition and Ministry of Digital Technology and Innovations.

No explanation was given for the revocation of L.I. 12, but sympathisers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have already gone to town, arguing that this was a necessary step to modernize the structure of government ministries in response to evolving national and global challenges.

The move is also seen as an effort to better align ministries with the government’s broader development goals.

Among these are the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts.

The revocation of L.I. 12 and the establishment of the new ministries have already sparked discussion across the political spectrum on social media, with many analysts noting the potential for improved governance, but also questioning the impact on existing programmes and ongoing initiatives.

While the full implications of the realignment are yet to be felt, the restructuring is seen by some people as a pivotal step toward creating a more responsive and effective government that can meet the dynamic needs of the country’s population.

By Ernest Kofi Adu

The Ashanti Regional Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abass Nurudeen, has refuted claims made by Ohemaa Benz, a communicator and journalist, that President John Mahama is not concerned about the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.

Ohemaa Benz, who is a journalist with Agyapa TV in the Ashanti Region and is known for her criticism of John Mahama, allegedly aimed at tarnishing his image while serving the interests of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

In a statement signed by Abass Nurudeen and released to the public, the NDC urged Ghanaians to disregard the journalist’s remarks, labeling them as falsehoods that misrepresent Mahama’s vision.

“Our attention has been drawn to a circulating video featuring a female journalist, Ohemaa Benz, expressing her personal views on the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy. Unfortunately, these views are being deliberately misrepresented by NPP propagandists as the official position of the newly-elected Mahama administration.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the individual in question, Ohemaa Benz, is a journalist with Agyapa TV and a regular panelist on the Atene show hosted by El Lizato. She is widely known as one of the fiercest critics of H.E. John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as evidenced by her commentary in the attached video. We urge the general public to disregard this desperate propaganda effort by the NPP,” the statement said.

The statement also clarified Mahama’s commitment to the Free SHS policy.

“President John Dramani Mahama remains fully committed to his promise of enhancing the Free SHS policy, ensuring it becomes more effective, inclusive, and accessible to all Ghanaian children,” it emphasised.

It will be recalled that Ohemaa Benz had asked parents with children in senior high school to stop pressuring President Mahama over the Free SHS policy, claiming it is not a priority for him.

According to her, President Mahama prioritises his much-touted 24-hour economy over the Free SHS policy.

She alleged that the President would focus on successfully implementing the 24-hour economy rather than emphasising Free SHS.

In a viral video, Ohemaa Benz remarked that parents unable to afford their children’s secondary education should allow them to stay home.

Her comments sparked backlash from sections of the public, who expressed anger over her remarks.

Watch as Mahama pledges to introduce Islamic banking instruments, reduce Hajj fares

SB/MA

Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr

Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr has asserted that Ghana has only had one republic, not four as widely accepted by the public.

According to him, although the country’s constitution has been overthrown and new ones created due to military takeovers, the republican status of the country has never changed since it became a republic on July 1, 1960.

“I also disagree with the concept of a 4th Republic. Ghana has always had only one republican state which has never changed,”

Pratt said during a panel discussion on the Good Morning Ghana program on January 9, 2024.

He explained that the idea of a new republic was created by those who overthrew the country’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, to create the impression of a new beginning after their actions.

“This idea of a second, third, and fourth republic must have its origins in the overthrow of the Nkrumah government, where opponents of Nkrumah and reactionary elements wanted to portray the Nkrumah era as a different kind of republic, and that we needed a new republic,” Pratt added.

He also mentioned that some people are now referring to a “second independence” after President John Dramani Mahama was sworn into office on Tuesday, January 7, 2024.

Watch Kwesi Pratt’s remarks in the video below:

There is no ‘4th Republic’ – Kwesi Pratt on Ghana’s Republican status#GoodMorningGhana #MetroTV pic.twitter.com/EMgqfzrE2L

— Metro TV Ghana (@metrotvgh) January 9, 2025

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Dr. Gideon Boako (R) and Dr. Tia Abdul-Kabiru Mahama, former aides of Dr. Bawumia are now MPs

Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia may have lost the 2024 presidential election, but his influence will still be felt in the governance process of the country for the next four years.

While Dr. Bawumia did not succeed in his bid for the presidency, some of his close associates, whom he mentored, emerged victorious in the 2024 parliamentary elections.

These associates, who gained prominence through their work with the vice president, are now members of the 9th Parliament of Ghana.

They will play a crucial role in drafting laws for the country and providing oversight of the John Dramani Mahama government in accordance with the 1992 Constitution.

The proteges of the former vice president, Dr. Gideon Boako and Dr. Tia Abdul-Kabiru Mahama, though relatively new to Ghana’s political scene, are tasked with shaping the country’s legislation.

Here are brief profiles of the two men:

Dr. Gideon Boako:

Dr. Gideon Boako represents the Tano North constituency in the Ahafo Region.

He is a financial economist with extensive experience in academia, public policy formulation, and consulting for both governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Dr. Boako was a member of Ghana’s Economic Management Team under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration.

He served as a technical advisor at the Office of the President and was the spokesperson for Dr. Mahamudu. Additionally, he served on the boards of the State Insurance Corporation (SIC) Financial Services LTD and the Danquah Institute (DI).

He also acted as a spokesperson for the NPP campaign team during the 2024 election.

Before entering politics, Dr. Gideon taught finance and economics at institutions such as the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University of the Witwatersrand, and the Garden City University College.

He is a Research Fellow at the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and holds Research Associate/Fellowship positions at various institutions globally.

Dr. Boako has consulted for organisations such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the International Institute for Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague, among others.

He holds a Ph.D. in Finance, as well as master’s degrees in Finance and Business Administration

.

Dr. Tia Abdul-Kabiru Mahama

Dr. Abdul-Kabiru Tiah Mahama represents the Walewale constituency in the North East Region.

He is a chartered economist and development economist with expertise in welfare, livelihood, and economic policy analysis.

Dr. Tiah Mahama holds an MPhil in Development Studies and a PhD in Development Studies.

Prior to his political career, he held various positions in project management and served as the National President of the Ghana National Service Scheme.

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Kwame Nkrumah received a citation at Pennsylvania University

Former Ghanaian President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah obtained numerous degrees from various universities in the United States, revealing uncommon personal details.

According to the Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center, Nkrumah’s real name, as captured in his academic records, was Francis Nwia-Kofi Nkrumah .

His country of origin was listed as British West Africa Gold Coast, and he had transferred from another US university to continue his education

.

At the University of Pennsylvania, Nkrumah was admitted to the Graduate School of Education in 1941.

He then pursued a new course, earning a university scholarship to study for a Master’s degree in Philosophy in 1943.

In 1944, he successfully passed his preliminary examination for a doctorate and worked as an instructor-informant for Zelig Harris in the African Studies graduate group for a while.

Afterward, he left the United States to study in the United Kingdom for further studies before returning to Ghana in 1947 to commence his political journey.

Through Nkrumah’s diligence and perseverance, his Pan-African movement advocating for independence yielded positive results, leading the nation to gain independence in 1957.

His contributions earned him selection as the Prime Minister of the Gold Coast in 1960.

See images of Nkrumah’s transcript and student visa below:

Watch the full swearing-in ceremony of John Dramani Mahama as President

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The National Prayer and Thanksgiving Service—Christian Worship and Celebration—is being held today, Sunday, January 7, 2024, in honor of President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.

This event, which is part of the activities marking the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony, is taking place at the auditorium of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

The Islamic version of the National Prayer and Thanksgiving Service was held on Friday, January 10, 2025.

Watch a livestream of the event below:

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play videoThe Minority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin

The Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, openly acknowledged his affiliation with the Freemason fraternity during the opening ceremony of the induction and orientation programme for members of the 9th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana on Saturday, January 11, 2024.

Afenyo-Markin, who has faced criticism in the past for discussing his membership in both the Freemasons and the Catholic Church, shared insights from the fraternity’s rule book to guide the Members of Parliament.

He began his address with a quote from the rules that stated, “The second-degree working tools of the Freemason’s rule book provide: ‘We have all sprung from the same stock, partakers of the same nature, and sharers in the same hope. And although distinctions amongst men are necessary to preserve subordination, yet ought no eminence of situation make you feel superior over the other.”

“‘For he who is placed at the lowest ebb of fortune’s wheel is equally entitled to our regard. As the time will come, the wisest of men knows not how soon, when all distinctions, save those of goodness and virtue, shall cease, and death, the grand leveller of all human greatness, shall reduce us to the same state,'” he said.

Afenyo-Markin who is the Member of Parliament for Effutu, then warmly welcomed the new members of the 9th Parliament and encouraged them to approach the induction and orientation process with seriousness.

He emphasised that the programme would provide valuable insights into the workings of the House, particularly for new MPs, enabling them to make meaningful contributions to the legislative process.

Additionally, he urged new members of the House to draw inspiration from the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, who began his legislative journey as a backbencher and has now ascended to the position of Speaker.

Watch his remarks in the videos below:

When the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, quoted from the Freemasons’ book during the Induction and Orientation Programme for Members of the Ninth Parliament (Cohort 1), held on Saturday, 11th January 2025.#GraphicOnline pic.twitter.com/2kMyiWOhBA

— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) January 12, 2025

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Some key dates in Ghana’s history:

12th Century – Various states established by the Akan people emerge and develop the gold trade.

1482 – Portuguese and later other European states set up posts to trade gold with the Akan states.

1500s – Transporting slaves overtakes gold as the main export in the region.

1600s – Dutch, English, Danish, and Swedish settlers arrive; slave trade becomes highly organised.

1642 – The Portuguese relinquish their territory to the Dutch and leave the Gold Coast.

1701 – Asante king Osei Tutu oversees a massive territorial expansion, backed by a disciplined royal and paramilitary army. The Asante or Ashanti Kingdom dominates the area for the next two centuries.

1807 – British ban on slave trade becomes effective.

19th Century – Sees a series of power struggles between Britain and Ashanti Kingdom for control of the area.

1821 – British Gold Coast colony established, after UK takes over the interests of other European countries. Britain steadily expands its colony through the invasion and subjection of local kingdoms.

1822-24 – First Anglo-Ashanti War.

1850 – Britain purchases and incorporates the Danish Gold Coast into its colony.

1872 – Britain acquires the Dutch Gold Coast.

1873-74 – Second Ashanti War; British sack the Ashanti capital Kumasi.

1893-94 – Third Ashanti War.

1895-96 – Fourth Ashanti War.

1900 – Ashanti Uprising. British forces capture Kumasi. Ashanti lose their independence.

1901 – British Gold Coast colony incorporates all the kingdoms and tribes into a single unit.

1948 – Rioting after British colonial police kill three World War Two veterans during a protest march demanding compensation for their war service. It becomes a milestone in Ghana’s struggle for independence.

1957 – Independence for the state now called Ghana, this unifies the Gold Coast, Ashanti, the Northern Territories, and British Togoland as one single country.

Ghana is the first country in black sub-Saharan Africa to shake off colonial rule, inspiring liberation struggles around the continent. Kwame Nkrumah becomes prime minister.

1964 – Nkrumah represses political opposition; Ghana becomes a one-party state, with Nkrumah as president for life.

1960s – Nkrumah promotes the concept of Pan-Africanism, which merges the teachings of Jamaican politician Marcus Garvey’s “Back to Africa” movement, the US’s Martin Luther King and Ghana’s WEB Du Bois, and plays a key role in founding of the Non-Aligned Movement,

1966 – Army overthrows Nkrumah and establishes military rule. A series of alternating military and civilian governments, affected by economic instabilities rule Ghana from 1966 to 1981.

1981 – Flt Lt Jerry Rawlings takes power. In the mid-80s he oversees economic and gradual political reforms.

1992 – New constitution, multi-party politics is restored.

1994-95 – Interethnic fighting in northern Ghana sees 1,000-2,000 people killed

2007 – Major off-shore oil discovery announced.

2010 – Offshore oil production starts.

2017 – Ghana and Ivory Coast set up a commission to implement an international ruling on a maritime border dispute involving oilfields.

Acting Spokesperson for the Presidency, Felix Kwakye Ofosu

The Acting Spokesperson for the Presidency, Felix Kwakye Ofosu has defended President Mahama’s nomination of three ministers.

The President on Thursday, nominated Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson for the Finance Ministry, John Jinapor for Energy and Dr. Dominic Ayine as Minister for Justice.

The list which was submitted to Parliament was however met with intense scrutiny from the Minority who said the announcement of only three nominees meant the National Democratic Congress was not ready for power.

However, speaking exclusively to Starr News, Kwakye Ofosu noted that there will be more of such announcements in the coming days.

“Even before President Mahama took over, he had been taking steps to ensure that, once in office, a functional government would be in place. He announced the ORAL team, the security team, and appointed staff at the Office of the President. He has also made three ministerial nominations, with more to follow in the coming days. His aim is to form his government as quickly as possible.”

“This urgency stems from the pressing challenges we face across all sectors. The energy sector, the economy, and nearly every part of our national life are under severe stress. The sooner the government is in place, the better. That is why President Mahama is moving at such a pace, even while maintaining significant levels of meticulousness.”

“President Mahama has promised the leanest government in Ghana’s history. He has committed to assembling an efficient team with the requisite expertise, experience, and know-how to turn around the dire situation our country faces.” He added

Meanwhile, Minority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin has questioned the rationale behind the piecemeal announcements.

“When the names were read out by Mr. Speaker, only three names were announced: the finance minister designate, the energy minister designate, and the attorney general and minister of justice. These few appointments are simply unacceptable.”

“This is the same government that promised a 24-hour economy while in opposition. They assured us they were ready to govern.”

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially launched a public appeal to gather insights and feedback on its historic loss in the 2024 general elections.

The party’s Election Review Committee has provided an email address to receive information from party members and stakeholders.

In a statement released on January 11, 2025, the Secretary of the 2024 Election Review Committee, William Yamoah, emphasized the importance of collecting diverse perspectives to better understand the factors that led to the party’s electoral defeat.

“The 2024 Election Review Committee is pleased to announce to all party members and stakeholders à dedicated email address to facilitate the collection of information, insights, and suggestions from hard-to-reach party members and stakeholders.

“We encourage all party members and individuals with relevant information regarding factors that influenced the 2024 election outcome to share their input via [email protected].

“We look forward to receiving your contributions and insights as we work to strengthen our processes,” the statement read.

The Electoral Commission Chairperson, Jean Mensa, on Monday, December 9, 2024, declared John Dramani Mahama the then candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the winner of the election, with a total of 6,328,397 votes.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the NPP received 4,657,304 votes.

Mahama’s party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), achieved historic success by gaining a huge majority in Parliament.

pic.twitter.com/VbWxHhteWQ

— New Patriotic Party (@NPP_GH) January 11, 2025

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The Vice President of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, has described President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to cut down ministries as a response to public sentiments and not about running an efficient government.

He explained that most of the ministries that have been scrapped or merged receive low finances to run during budget allocation, which means that it will not have a major impact on attaining government efficiency.

The IMANI Africa vice president further noted that the bigger ministries like health, education, and institutions like the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and others are the real cost drivers that need to be reviewed to save costs instead of scrapping the less significant ones.

In an article titled, ‘The Stressful Difference between Cutting Ministries and Cutting Costs in Ghana,’ Bright Simons explained why Mahama’s move is a response to sentiments.

“Because, frankly, the usual concern about the “number of ministers” is primarily about optics and symbolism. The people just don’t like seeing presidents appoint a large number of ministers because it “feels” and “looks” quite “obscene.” Cutting down the number of ministries and ministers is thus an exercise in “reading the sentiments” of the public, and in being “responsive” and not about lean and efficient government reforms per se. Being a “listening government” can have its own rewards separate from efficiency gains.

“To actually move in the direction of government efficiency, you must ask whether the thousands of workers in collapsed ministries would leave the government payroll or would simply be redistributed. How come we never touch the actual agencies where 98% of public workers and government business reside? Ministries are merely the tip of the iceberg. Agencies like the Police, Ghana Educational Service, and Ghana Revenue Authority are far heftier. State-owned enterprises like GNPC and ECG matter in every respect of spending efficiency than 60% of ministries,” he noted.

Simons shed more light on the reason the scrapped ministries do not make financial gains for the country as the staff may be redistributed to the government payroll.

He also added that one of the ways of saving government spending is undertaking reforms in the health and education ministries to trim their budgets.

“Furthermore, ministries are very varied. There are some like the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs that received, on average, less than $5 million a year as its entire budget. The funny Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs gets barely $600k a year. Frankly, ministries like that and the one for “business development” won’t be missed by anyone. They look like nuisances. On that score alone, citizens like to see them axed. But their total burden on the exchequer is puny.

“Then there are the giant ministries. Health, education, Roads & Highways, and the Interior. Education gets a cool $2 billion a year, more than 20% of the total government budget in most years. In fact, in 2024, the budget of the Ghanaian Ministry of Education was twice that of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education (in dollar value at market rate). Even if you add all public spending on education in Nigeria up, Ghana’s ministry still spends more. It is a true behemoth. The Health Ministry gets a billion dollars. If you really want to make major savings in government spending, you could introduce reforms in health and education that would eclipse the savings made from abolishing 5 ministries,” he added.

He further continued, “And, here I am talking about truly ABOLISHING. Like, man, sacking workers and auctioning V8s. Not the Ghana-style ministerial collapses in which everything remains as before except the few titles dropped. Anyway, the issue of how to save money across the government is a very broad and multifaceted one. The biggest area is actually in debt management. Then capital expenditure. And finally procurement related to general government operations. Only then does one even get to payroll issues.”

This comes after President Mahama announced the reduction of ministries from 30 to 23 to help his government run efficiently.

Read the full article below:

The Stressful Difference between Cutting Ministries & Cutting Costs in Ghana

1. Ghana’s new president has reduced the number of government ministries to 23 from the previous 30 in line with his campaign promises.

2. When it comes to clustering subsectors to create ministries, every wise person you meet would have different opinions.

3. In the 2000s, the Kufuor government decided that “youth and sports” belonged with “education.” The Mills government disagreed. But the latter government felt that “works and housing” somehow fit well with “water resources.” In all this clustering business, no government ever bothers to detail its thoughts as to justification. It is just what it is.

4. I, too, can have an opinion without explanation, I guess. Looking at the new list, I might argue that “water resources” fit best with “land and natural resources” due to similar concessioning and control issues. And that the same ministry should handle “environment.” “Innovations”, nowadays, fit best, in my modest view, with “Science and Technology”. I might question why “agribusiness” is being pulled out of Agriculture and ask whether “pharma business” too doesn’t deserve to be pulled out of “health” if we want to go on that tangent. Etc. I doubt anyone cares.

5. Because, frankly, the usual concern about the “number of ministers” is primarily about optics and symbolism. The people just don’t like seeing presidents appoint a large number of ministers because it “feels” and “looks” quite “obscene.”

6. Cutting down the number of ministries and ministers is thus an exercise in “reading the sentiments” of the public, and in being “responsive” and not about lean and efficient government reforms per se. Being a “listening government” can have its own rewards separate from efficiency gains.

7. To actually move in the direction of government efficiency, you must ask whether the thousands of workers in collapsed ministries would leave the government payroll or would simply be redistributed. How come we never touch the actual agencies where 98% of public workers and government business reside? Ministries are merely the tip of the iceberg. Agencies like the Police, Ghana Educational Service, and Ghana Revenue Authority are far heftier. State-owned enterprises like GNPC and ECG matter in every respect of spending efficiency than 60% of ministries.

8. Would there be less spending on bureaucracy across the government as a whole following the reduction in the number of ministries? Where are the financial numbers to prove this? If you went back in history and compared spending on “office of government machinery” before and after “listening governments” cut down on the numbers of ministers, you might be surprised to see that the expense tends to increase year on year regardless.

9. Furthermore, ministries are very varied. There are some like the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs that received, on average, less than $5 million a year as its entire budget. The funny Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs gets barely $600k a year. Frankly, ministries like that and the one for “business development” won’t be missed by anyone. They look like nuisances. On that score alone, citizens like to see them axed. But their total burden on the exchequer is puny.

10. Then there are the giant ministries. Health, education, Roads & Highways, and the Interior. Education gets a cool $2 billion a year, more than 20% of the total government budget in most years. In fact, in 2024, the budget of the Ghanaian ministry of education was twice that of the Nigerian federal ministry of education (in dollar value at market rate). Even if you add all public spending on education in Nigeria up, Ghana’s ministry still spends more. It is a true behemoth. The Health Ministry gets a billion dollars. If you really want to make major savings in government spending, you could introduce reforms in health and education that would eclipse the savings made from abolishing 5 ministries. And, here I am talking about truly ABOLISHING. Like, man, sacking workers and auctioning V8s. Not the Ghana-style ministerial collapses in which everything remains as before except the few titles dropped.

11. Anyway, the issue of how to save money across the government is a very broad and multifaceted one. The biggest area is actually in debt management. Then capital expenditure. And finally procurement related to general government operations. Only then does one even get to payroll issues. Ministerial perks should be on the list somewhere, for sure, perhaps on page 17 of the memo, in between stationery and guest house management. Fuel coupons, useless workshops, and travel imprest are all certainly higher up.

12. In short, the issues plenty. And Mr. President has only 4 years. So, the work dey. Serious! But God too dey.

Watch the full swearing-in of John Mahama

SB/MA