Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa, has criticised the decision by President John Dramani Mahama to reduce the number of ministries from 30 to 23, suggesting the move is motivated more by public sentiment than genuine efforts to improve government efficiency.

In an article titled The Stressful Difference Between Cutting Ministries & Cutting Costs in Ghana, Simons argued that the restructuring of ministries is largely shaped by political considerations and public perception, rather than by a clear focus on operational effectiveness. He pointed out that previous administrations, such as that of former President Kufuor, had combined different sectors like “youth and sports” with “education,” while the Mills government took a different approach, pairing “works and housing” with “water resources.”

Simons contended that Mahama’s decision to reduce the number of ministries was driven primarily by the public’s negative view of a bloated cabinet, which many see as excessive. However, he questioned whether this restructuring would result in any real improvements in government efficiency.

He argued that the real challenge lies not in the number of ministries, but in the large number of public sector workers employed by government agencies. Ministries, Simons noted, are just one part of the broader picture, with entities like the Police Service, Ghana Education Service, and Ghana Revenue Authority employing a far greater proportion of public workers.

Simons also highlighted the significant role played by state-owned enterprises, such as the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), in government spending. He suggested that reforms in these areas could yield greater efficiency than changes to ministry structures alone.

While acknowledging the political benefit of being seen as a responsive government, Simons cautioned that such sentiment-driven decisions may not translate into meaningful gains in government performance.

Source:TheDotNews