President John Mahama has defended his decision to exclude a Ministry of Information from his government’s new structure, describing it as a deliberate and strategic move to streamline operations and fulfill his promise to reduce the size of the administration.

The decision, which has raised concerns from the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) about the rationale behind removing the ministry, was addressed by President Mahama in a recent press engagement.

The President explained that the removal of the Information Ministry is part of a broader effort to cut down on government redundancies while ensuring that communication remains effective.

“In response to our promise to downsize government, you’ll notice that there’s no Information Ministry in the lineup of 23 ministries we recently announced,” Mahama said. “This was a strategic decision to streamline our operations and make sure we are working efficiently.”

To ensure the continued flow of government communication, Mahama revealed that he has established a Minister of State responsible for government communications, placed directly under the presidency. This move, he said, allows for more focused, centralized management of information.

“We had to be strategic about how we manage the flow of information because it’s critical to the success of our administration,” he explained. “That’s why we brought information into the presidency, with a dedicated Minister of State overseeing it, supported by skilled communication professionals in key sectors.”

Mahama also unveiled plans to revamp the Information Services Department (ISD), aiming to transform it from a traditional civil service entity into a more agile and dynamic body that can effectively communicate government activities to the public in real time.

This restructuring is part of Mahama’s broader vision for a more modern, efficient, and transparent government.

Source:TheDotNews