The Executive Director of the Africa Development Council, Dr. Bright Sogbey, has urged President-elect John Dramani Mahama to consider merging several ministries to realise the leaner government structure promised during his campaign.
This recommendation aligns with Mahama’s commitment to streamline government operations, reduce spending, and reinvest the savings to enhance the lives of Ghanaians.
During his campaign for the 2024 presidential election, John Dramani Mahama pledged to simplify the government structure and appoint only 60 ministers.
In a special live broadcast titled “Mahama Conversations,” the former president reiterated this promise, emphasising that a leaner government would generate significant savings to address critical issues affecting citizens’ quality of life.
“A leaner government is what I guarantee,” Mahama declared. “We’ll reduce government spending and have fewer ministers. The money we save will be put towards improving the lives of our teachers and other national employees.”
In response, Dr. Sogbey has proposed a comprehensive framework for merging ministries to achieve this goal. He outlined the following ministries that could be streamlined or combined:
- Ministry of Science and Technology
- Ministry of Trade and Industry
- Ministry of Transport, Roads & Highways (encompassing road, air, and rail transport)
- Ministry of Energy (incorporating Power and Petroleum)
- Ministry of Environment and Sanitation
- Ministry of Information & Communication
- Ministry of Agriculture (covering all aspects of agriculture)
- Ministry of Defence
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Interior
- Attorney General & Justice Ministry
- Ministry of Employment and Labour Affairs
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning
- Ministry of Gender and Social Protection
- Ministry of Chieftaincy, Tourism, Creative Arts, and Culture
- Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development
- Ministry of Land and Natural Resources
- Ministry of Works, Housing, and Water
Dr. Sogbey also suggested the following structural adjustments:
- Ministries of Education, Agriculture, Energy, and Finance could each have two deputies to ensure efficiency.
- Elimination of deputy regional minister positions, with metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives (MMDCEs) acting in the absence of ministers or being delegated responsibilities.
- Removal of ministerial positions at the presidency.
These changes, he argued, would result in a total of 60 ministers and deputy ministers. A further realignment of the proposed ministry structure could reduce this number even more, ensuring a lean and efficient government.
Dr. Sogbey’s recommendations reflect a commitment to helping the incoming Mahama administration achieve its vision of a government that prioritises resource allocation for national development while cutting unnecessary expenditures. Whether these proposals will be adopted remains to be seen, but they offer a clear roadmap for a more streamlined and cost-effective governance structure.