Ghana president increases ministers to 111

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo at the weekend made some changes in the composition of his government, increasing the number of ministers to 111.

Before the announcement there were speculations that the president would trim the size of his cabinet by sacking some junior ministers. President Akufo-Addo on assumption of office appointed 110 ministers, the highest so far in the history of the country since its return to constitutional rule in 1992.

With this round of appointments, the president has created two more ministerial portfolios; namely Minister of State at the Office of the President and the Minister of State at the Office of the VicePresident, thus bringing the number to 111.

The opposition has criticized the development. Inusah Fuseni, a member of the opposition in Parliament expressed dismay with the regime for refusing to downsize the ministerial portfolios.

“I think Nana Addo just did musical chairs with his ministers. I don’t see that as a reshuffle. He only moved the ministers around without considering the number involved,” he said.

Political analyst and fellow of Imani Africa, Mr Casely Ato Coleman, said the president should reconsider trimming the size of his government saying, “The size of the government is too large and the president must consolidate some of the ministers. The president must pay attention to the civil service.”