Apologise to Ghanaians and appoint more than 60 ministers – Afenyo-Markin to Mahama

The Minority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on President John Mahama to reconsider his campaign pledge of limiting ministerial appointments to no more than 60.

Afenyo-Markin, while speaking on the floor of Parliament during a debate on the approval of ministerial nominees on January 23, urged President Mahama to apologize to Ghanaians for underestimating the complexities of governance and to increase the number of ministers for effective administration.

During his presidential campaign, Mahama had promised to reduce government expenditure and promote efficiency by capping the number of ministers at 60. However, Afenyo-Markin believes that this restriction could be detrimental to the government’s ability to manage the country’s intricate governance needs effectively. According to the Minority Leader, limiting the number of ministers may ultimately hinder the government’s ability to oversee and manage various sectors adequately.

Afenyo-Markin argued that when mistakes are made, it is important to admit them and seek solutions rather than stubbornly sticking to a promise that may not be feasible. He emphasized that having only 60 ministers would not support Mahama’s political cause and would likely create governance challenges. “When we make mistakes, let’s admit them and apologise. Sixty ministers will not help your political cause,” he remarked, indicating that a more flexible approach would benefit the country.

He further explained that some ministries, such as the Local Government and Chieftaincy Ministry, are particularly demanding and require significant oversight and conflict resolution. Combining such ministries, as the president suggested, could lead to complications and inefficiencies. Afenyo-Markin expressed concerns that overburdening a small number of ministers with the responsibilities of overseeing multiple ministries could lead to operational inefficiencies, delays in decision-making, and an increased risk of corruption.

The Minority Leader also highlighted the paradox of merging ministries while maintaining the same number of civil servants. He pointed out that merging ministries would not necessarily result in cost savings, as the civil servants who work in those ministries would remain in their positions.

As a result, a single minister overseeing an enlarged portfolio could become overwhelmed, ultimately leading to subpar governance and increased scrutiny over possible corruption. “People forget that when you merge two ministries, the staffers remain the same. All the civil servants who are there stay. One minister supervising everything will soon lead to things getting out of hand, and then corruption accusations will follow,” he warned.

Afenyo-Markin concluded by advising the president to take a pragmatic approach to governance, acknowledging that the realities of managing a country are more complex than campaign promises may reflect.

Instead of adhering rigidly to a campaign commitment, the Minority Leader urged President Mahama to communicate openly with the public about the challenges of governance and the need for flexibility in ministerial appointments. “Let’s boldly explain the intricacies of politics to the public instead of falling into the trap of unrealistic political commitments,” Afenyo-Markin stated.

This call to reconsider the ministerial appointments comes at a time when the complexities of governance are particularly pronounced, with various sectors requiring careful oversight to ensure that national development goals are met efficiently. It reflects a larger debate within the country about balancing political promises with practical governance needs.