The back and forth between the government and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over its large size-government has resurfaced in the country.
This was after the National Democratic Congress flagbearer (NDC), John Mahama challenged President Nana Akufo-Addo to reduce the size of his government by about 40 Ministers and Deputy Ministers to ensure efficiency.
Mahama argued that the size of the Akufo-Addo government was having a negative toll on the country’s resources.
This assertion was also trumpeted by the NDC Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, who said the country is yet to benefit from the record number of ministers.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, Mr. Vanderpuye singled out key sectors of the country like education, security, sanitation, employment and state of the economy as having regressed under the NPP government which he described as elephant-sized.
“Every aspect of our lives has gone back years. Sometimes I even wonder if we are still in modern Ghana or ancient Ghana because of the things that are happening in the country. “
“Today, you have come to establish the Ministry of Water and Sanitation but the environmental sanitation in the country is worse than three years ago so what is the use? You have the ministry of monitoring and evaluation and the corruption in the country is worse.”
But the government insists that the large government size is manifesting in development.
“The President believes that at the end of the day, the Ghanaian people will come to understand why he took such a courageous decision and his achievements will vindicate his decision.”
“I think that it is disjointed to say that it is not reflecting in the standards of the people… The number of ministers is reflecting in the steady progress that we are making.”
President Akufo-Addo has in the past made similar defences saying the decision to appoint many Ministers will be understood when his current term as Head of State ends in 2021.
“As you know there are some who say my government is too big and there are too many of you. I am a firm believer in the adage the proof of the pudding is in the eating,” he said in March.
His administration now has 125 ministers, over 30 more ministers more than his predecessors.