Former Legal Counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Kow Essuman, has accused the Mahama administration of engaging in propaganda over the publication and interpretation of staffing figures at the Office of the President.
In a detailed statement aimed at what he described as setting the record straight, Mr Essuman argued that official records submitted to Parliament under the previous administration contradict claims being circulated regarding the size and composition of presidential staff under former President Akufo-Addo.
According to him, the issue of presidential staffing is a matter of public record and should be approached with accuracy rather than political messaging.
“We expect truth and accuracy from the Presidency and its officials, not propaganda. The staffing of the Presidency is a matter of record, and it is important to put that record out there.”
Former Legal Counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Kow Essuman
Former Counsel Defends Previous Administration’s Record
Kow Essuman explained that during his tenure as Legal Counsel to the President, one of his responsibilities involved ensuring that reports on the staff of the Office of the President were submitted to Parliament in accordance with the law.
He noted that this process was carried out in collaboration with the Office of the Chief of Staff and President Akufo Addo, despite criticisms from political opponents at the time. “I therefore speak to these facts directly,” he said.
Addressing reports that have resurfaced on social media, Mr Essuman clarified that the 2023 report currently being discussed actually covered staffing levels for the period from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022.
He added that the report covering the period from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, was submitted to Parliament in March 2024.
Breakdown of Staffing Numbers
Providing figures from the reports, Mr Essuman said the total number of staff at the Presidency stood at 995 in the 2022 report. According to him, this number increased to 1,048 in the 2023 report before declining to 921 in the 2024 report.
He further argued that the composition of the staff numbers has often been misunderstood, particularly regarding the distinction between political appointees and career public servants.
According to Essuman, political appointees at the Presidency numbered 357 in 2023, representing a reduction of four from the previous reporting period. He also stated that civil and public service staff totaled 564 during the same period, reflecting a decrease of 123 compared to the preceding year.
These categories, he explained, included civil service personnel, presidential household staff, and other public servants attached to the Presidency.
“They are not political appointees. The President does not appoint them, and they have always been part of the staff of the Office of the President under every government.”
Former Legal Counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Kow Essuman
Questions Over Outstanding Reports
Beyond defending the Akufo-Addo administration’s staffing record, Mr Essuman questioned whether the current government had fulfilled its own statutory obligations regarding the submission of presidential staffing reports.
According to him, the report covering the period from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, was expected to have been submitted by March 2025. He challenged the Mahama administration to disclose whether the report had indeed been presented to Parliament.
“The critical question is this: did this government submit the report in respect of staffing for 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024? If they did, they should provide us with the numbers as at the time President Akufo Addo was leaving office. If they did not, then it is a serious breach of the law.”
Former Legal Counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Kow Essuman
Concerns Over Presidential Staffing Costs
Essuman also raised concerns about what he described as a significant increase in expenditure associated with staffing at the Presidency under the current administration.
He argued that even if the number of staff had declined as suggested by government officials, the budget allocated to support presidential personnel had expanded substantially.
“What should concern every Ghanaian is the ballooning of the budget for the staff of this Presidency, even at the purported reduced numbers. This is unprecedented.”
Former Legal Counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Kow Essuman
Dispute Over Salary Payments
The former presidential adviser further accused the government of selectively implementing salary adjustments approved shortly before the end of the Akufo Addo administration.
Referring to comments reportedly made by Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Essuman acknowledged that salary approvals had been granted on January 6, 2025.
However, he maintained that former presidential staffers and political appointees had not received the corresponding salary arrears and benefits. According to him, while members of the current administration had benefited from the revised salary structure, officials who served under the previous government had been excluded.
“Ghanaians deserve better than selective accounting, selective payments, and selective truth. Pay what is due. And stop the propaganda because the records do not lie, and we will keep putting them before the people.”
Former Legal Counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Kow Essuman
Accountability Beyond Partisanship
The latest exchange adds to ongoing political debates over public sector expenditure, transparency, and accountability in governance.
While the Presidency is yet to respond formally to Essuman’s latest claims, the discussion has reignited public interest in the staffing structure and operational costs associated with the Office of the President.
Kow Essuman concluded by stressing that accountability should transcend political divisions. “The law is no respecter of persons; Accountability is not a partisan project; it is a constitutional duty,” he stated.
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