By Ebi Kesiena
President John Mahama of Ghana has reduced the number of ministries from 30 to 23 in a bid to cut government spending. This decision, enacted through an executive order, was recorded in a gazette just a few days after Mahama’s inauguration.
Several ministries established during former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration have been dissolved under this new structure. These include the Ministries of Information, Sanitation and Water Resources, National Security, Railway Development, Parliamentary Affairs, Public Enterprises, and Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
To streamline governance, Mahama has retained key ministries such as Finance, Health, Interior, Defence, and Education.
Additionally, new ministries have been created, focusing on areas like Energy and Green Transition, Youth Development and Empowerment, and Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry. Other new ministries include those dedicated to Sports and Recreation, Communication and Digital Technology, Works, Housing and Water Resources, and Gender, Children, and Social Protection.
Mahama, who previously served as Ghana’s President from 2012 to 2017, returned to office after defeating former Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia in the recent presidential election.
Mahama won with 6,328,397 votes, representing 56.55% of the total, while Bawumia received 4,657,304 votes, or 41.6%. Bawumia notably conceded defeat before the official results were announced.
Heritage Times HT notes that this move to reduce government spending stands in contrast to the actions of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who increased the number of Nigeria’s ministries from 44 to 48 in 2023.
Tinubu’s expansion has faced significant criticism, particularly as Nigeria continues to struggle with a worsening cost-of-living crisis.
