Government Size Matters in Expenditure Reduction, Asserts Expert

Richard Kojo Elimah, the Executive Director for the Centre for Social Impact Studies (CeSIS), has emphasized the significance of government size in reducing expenditure for Ghana. Elimah raised questions regarding the excessive number of ministers in Ghana compared to countries with significantly fewer ministers.

“How can Ghana, with 86 ministers, seek loans from countries that have as low as 20 ministers?” Elimah questioned, highlighting the disparity in ministerial appointments.

In an interview on Nkwantannanso on May 29, he further argued that Ghana does not require as many ministers and deputy ministers as it currently has.

Mr Elimah stated, “We do not need deputies for certain ministries, especially the specialized ones, because they already have directors and other civil servants who are capable of performing the duties of the deputy ministers.”

His remarks underscore the importance of streamlining government size to reduce expenditure and improve efficiency in governance. He suggests that minimizing the number of ministerial positions, particularly in specialized areas, could lead to cost savings and more effective utilization of existing civil servants.