The Founding President of IMANI Africa, a prominent policy think tank, Franklin Cudjoe has expressed disappointment over President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s failure to downsize his government despite several calls by Ghanaians.
Mr Cudjoe, in a Facebook post on Monday, January 15 2023 in reaction to the government’s recent budget allocation, which included a substantial increase for the Office of Government Machinery also chastised President Akufo-Addo over his failure to reshuffle his appointees despite several calls by Ghanaians including members of his party.
Mr Cudjoe reflecting on the establishment of the Office of the Senior Minister under the first term of President Akufo-Addo indicated that the only positive aspect of the office’s existence was its role in editing the public sector reform policy which was drafted by the National Democratic Congress Mahama led administration.
According to Mr Cudjo, the overall assessment is that the office of the Senior Minister became a needless drain on the public purse, raising questions about the effectiveness of such government structures.
The Founding President of IMANI Africa further asserted that since the dissolution of the Senior Minister’s office, President Akufo-Addo has done very little to address his large and bloated size of government or replace ineffective ministers.
“Since that rare move made by my friend, Nana Addo, nothing significant has been done to reduce the monstrous size of his current government, let alone replace ineffective ministers. And yet, the Office of Government Machinery, where he resides continues to gobble up our meagre resources – it just got a 100% raise for its 2024 budget while imposing numerous home-wrecking taxes to fund the splurge”.
Franklin Cudjoe
President Akufo-Addo Urged To Downsize Government
Moreover, the founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe urged President Akufo-Addo to immediately reduce the size of his government.
Mr Cudjoe further emphasized the need for President Akufo-Addo to reshuffle some of his appointees who have remained in office since 2017 when he assumed office but yet have nothing to show.
According to Mr Cudjoe, the calls for President Akufo-Addo to reduce the size of government particularly would not only serve as a fiscal responsibility measure but also as a means to redirect resources toward pressing needs, such as healthcare infrastructure in some remote places in the country.
“Nana President, l know you no dey biz me sef these days, but please listen to your own frustrated party General Secretary and reduce and reshuffle your big daddy government so we can save some money to buy incubators for hospitals in Walewale”
Franklin Cudjoe
However, the former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay has commended the efforts of the Akufo-Addo-led administration in combating corruption.
Mr Blay acknowledged that although Ghana, like many other countries, is grappling with the consequences of corruption, the current government has been effective in implementing policies to address the issue.
“The government of Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, so far as I am concerned, has put in more efforts under the third and fourth republic, to fight corruption than any other government that I can think of. I am being sincere. How do you fight corruption? It’s not vowing to be a saint as an individual and therefore let people follow your examples.
Freddie Blay
According to former Ellembelle Member of Parliament, President Akufo-Addo possesses the determination and enthusiasm to curb the menace of corruption stressing President Akufo-Addo’s empowerment of anti-corruption agencies such as the Judiciary and the Office of the Special Prosecutor in the fight against corruption.
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