A former Rector of GIMPA Prof. Stephen Adei wants to adopt a “wait-and-see” attitude as majority of Ghanaians flay President Akufo-Addo over the size of his government.
The fifth president under the Fourth Republic has outdoored the largest government ever in the history of Ghana following the appointment of 110 ministers. Information Minister Mustapha Hamid in defending the move said the end justifies the means.
According to Prof. Adei, he is as “surprised” as “everybody” but will rather tarry in jumping to conclusion since President Akufo-Addo knows the strategy he wants to rollout.
Prof. Adei admitted in an interview with Joy FM that the large government size will put pressure on the public purse, but maintained he is a “really thoughtful guy” and will allow “time to tell” if the 110 appointees will bring about any dividend to the nation.
BACKLASH
The founding president of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has fired salvos at President Akufo-Addo over the size of his government.
Mr. Cudjoe in an interview on the Morning Starr Thursday, did not mince words, arguing Akufo-Addo’s decision to appoint 110 ministers and deputies “doesn’t make sense.”
He stressed the “lawful plunder” will have adverse effect on the public purse. “What is this?” a bewildered Cudjoe quipped.
“Other African countries are doing the same and I thought we were making progress… I’m quite disappointed,” the IMANI Africa boss asserted.
Describing the development as “a very stubborn and disrespectful way of handling national affairs,” Mr. Cudjoe predicted it will lead to “cronyism.”
“Cronyism leads to corruption. If the money doesn’t belong to you, you don’t see the need to be prudent.”
SENSELESS
The opposition National Democratic Congress has described government’s justification of the size as “senseless.”
“The argument that the economy is so destroyed that they need a bigger team to do the work also doesn’t make sense,” General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia told TV3.
The Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak described the size as shocking.
“It is just so shocking,” he told journalists after proceedings in parliament.
“For the first time in the history of the Fourth Republic, we are crossing the ninetieth mark…we are crossing the ninetieth mark. Check president Rawlings’ ministers, check president Kufuor’s ministers, check the late Atta Mills’ and John Dramani Mahama.
“This is the biggest. It is so [shameful] we even heard that a minister of state at the presidency has a deputy. This is most ridiculous. Someone who is telling the whole country to tighten up their belt…[he’s] just adding on as if it is chaskeleke,” he said.
