Mahama appointees with ministerial status exceed 100 – Jinapor

Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has raised alarm over the increasing number of presidential appointees under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
He contends that while these appointees may not hold official ministerial titles, their ranks, salaries, and benefits equate them with Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers. This, he argues, undermines claims that the Mahama government has reduced the size of its administration.

How advisors equate ministers
Mr Jinapor explained that Senior Presidential Advisors function at the level of Cabinet Ministers, enjoying similar privileges, remuneration, and office benefits as Cabinet Ministers who are Members of Parliament.
These advisors are not subject to parliamentary vetting but wield significant influence in government affairs.
One such example is Dr. Valerie Sawyer, Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of Government Affairs, whose financial entitlements align with those of a Cabinet Minister.
Beyond the Senior Advisors, there are several Presidential Advisors who, according to Mr Jinapor, equate Ministers of State in both status and financial implications.
These officials, assigned to specialized sectors such as the economy, anti-corruption programmes, and diaspora affairs, receive salaries and allowances on par with ministers, further increasing the financial burden on the national budget.
Presidential Staffers, another category of appointees, effectively function as Deputy Ministers, Mr Jinapor asserted.
Despite their titles, they perform duties similar to deputy ministers and receive comparable salaries and benefits.
He specifically criticized the appointment of 16 Presidential Staffers, each assigned to oversee a region, arguing that these positions mirror those of Deputy Regional Ministers and contradict the government’s claims of not appointing Deputy Regional Ministers.

Expanding presidential bureaucracy
The Damongo MP further detailed what he described as an excessive bureaucracy within the presidency, citing numerous appointments that continue to inflate government expenditure. Among them are Presidential Staffers designated for the Vice-President, Black Star Experience, and Diaspora Affairs, alongside five Policy Advisors to the Vice-President.
He pointed out that the Mahama administration has also assembled an extensive media and communication team, which includes a Presidential Advisor for Media, multiple Directors and Deputy Directors of Communication, Communication Specialists, Technical Assistants, a Media Aide, a Media Liaison Officer, and a Communication Consultant.
Mr Jinapor sarcastically suggested that at the rate at which these appointments were being made, the President might soon appoint advisors for even trivial matters such as ‘nkukɔ nkitin nkti, or the motorcycle taxi business known as “Okada.”

The financial burden and call for prudence
Mr Jinapor emphasized the financial implications of these appointments, arguing that they place unnecessary strain on the national budget.
He accused the government of circumventing parliamentary oversight by granting ministerial privileges under different designations, thus inflating the true size of the administration.
“Mr. Speaker, I have done the calculations, and I can confidently state that the President has effectively appointed over 100 Ministers and Deputy Ministers,” he declared, underscoring the fiscal impact these appointments have on the country’s economy.
Having previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Jinapor insisted that his critique was based on firsthand experience rather than political bias.
He urged the government to adopt a more disciplined approach to governance, ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and that appointments are justified by genuine need rather than political convenience.
His revelations have sparked renewed debate on the size of government, with many questioning whether these numerous appointments serve the national interest or merely contribute to bureaucratic expansion.