Bawumia Promises To Limit Ministerial Appointments To Below 50, Wants To Cap Government Spending

• Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party flagbearer, has pledged to keep his ministerial appointments below 50
• According to him, a leaner government would ensure his administration remains efficient and would reduce spending
• He also stated that he would localise most of his government's procurements to incentivise private sector development

New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has vowed to limit appointing ministers to below 50 if he is elected as president after December 7, 2024.

The current Vice President of Ghana made this promise during the NPP’s official manifesto launch event, which was held in Takoradi on Saturday, August 18, 2024.

Per Modern Ghana, Dr Bawumia said that he would target creating a 'leaner' government to improve efficiency amid concerns about the size of President Nana Akufo-Addo's cabinet.

The President had been inundated with calls to limit the size of his government ever since his first term in office when he appointed 110 ministers.

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Civil society organisations and opposition parties had protested against his 'elephant-sized' cabinet and blamed it for ballooning government expenditure.

However, Akufo-Addo had previously argued that he needed his many ministers to help him achieve his manifesto promises to Ghanaians.

Bawumia promises to reduce government expenditure

The NPP flagbearer also announced plans to reduce government spending by reducing outright purchases and leasing essential goods instead.

He said his government would lease vehicles and printing equipment as part of a grand scheme to reduce maintenance costs and save government money annually.

Bawumia said these measures would also urge the private sector to invest in expansion and job creation to meet the government’s demands.

On July 8, the National Democratic Congress flagbearer, John Mahama, also committed to drastically reducing the size of government if he becomes president after the December 7, 2024 polls.

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Bawumia denies Akufo-Addo government is reckless

Meanwhile, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia also refuted claims that the Akufo-Addo administration had wasted public funds, calling the allegations 'spurious' and 'not reflecting reality'.

Speaking at the 8th Ghana CEOs Summit in Accra on May 27, 2024, he asserted that the NPP government has used public funds judiciously over the past seven years to establish projects that would benefit the country long term.

He touted projects such as networking hospitals, establishing the Ghana.gov platform to streamline payments to state agencies, the Ghana Card, and other interventions that have saved the government millions.

Bawumia vows to reduce public transport costs

YEN.com.gh also reported on Dr Bawumia promising to reduce public transportation costs if he was elected as president.

The NPP flagbearer said his government would promote and support using electric vehicles for Ghanaians commuting.

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Dr Bawumia also stated that the Gold-For-Oil policy would continue to be bolstered to stabilise the fuel prices at the pump.

Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh