Ghanaians Want Smaller Government?

A Ghanaweb poll conducted on the internet, from 19 to 23 August 2003, showed that majority of citizens want a smaller government. Over 80 PERCENT of those polled think the number of ministers is excessive. Just under 8 percent think the current level is about right and fewer than 3% want an increase

The debate on the size of government and its financial implications for the country was raised by the Director of Legal Policy and Governance (CDD-Ghana) last week.

Ghana has over 70 ministers & deputies: What would be an ideal number
30 - 40	31.2%
Under 30	25.4%
41 - 50	18.4%
51 - 60	10.5%
71-80 (Current Level)	7.9%
61 - 70	3.7%
Over 80	2.9%
Total votes: 1005

Unedited Comments From Some of our Visitors
l think it would cut down the finance and help the gov to have full contro on their activities
-- mr c ahenkorah

Most of these ministers are doing nothing to raise the standard of democracy in ghana. They are just hopping from one place to another enjoying free lunch, free ride of power to the detriment of the ignorant masses of ghanaians talking and talking rubbish.I consider them total uesless and a total WASTE of taxpayers money. What a waste of human resources.
-- justice

Structural reform will streamline government decision making and save the nation money. Money needs to be spent on infrastructure, not so much on administration. Performance targets need to be set for each department. For example in Tourism, a 3% increase in tourist numbers each year.
-- Michael

Still the same old. Shame on Kufuor for criticizing JJ. Nyame ahu wu ooooo.
--will

One cannot make a justifiable speculation on the appropriateness of the size of ministers without a proper analyses of how effecient such a number can be. 70 ministers might be too much but 40 can also be too small. There must be some criteria or a benchmark for measuring success or how effecient such a magic number can be.
As usual.
-- J. Bukari

Please, will someone tell the Ghana Gov that the ministers are too much. They should be reduced to 25. Is the gov creating posts for their friends and family members? U do not need ministry of women affairs,it should be under ministry of social welfare
-- yaw kwayisi

Whom are we fooling? Ghana, which is about the size of Florida must start cutting it's coat acording to its size and drastically cut the number of the "pot belly" ministers down.
--joe affum

Kufour's administration is the most disappointing of all the pack. Look this came supposedly to clean house, and ensure that fiscal displine is employed. Unfortunately what we've seen is a president so entangled on foreign matters to the neglect of domestic issues. There's nothing more galling than the sight of non-committal politicos feeding fat at the national trough while their constituents struggle to meet life's daily challenges.
-- Joe Amana

It is really a waste of the tax payers money when a country who is a member of the the HIPC
--SETH BONSU

I do not think any predetermined number should be set. However, clear guidelines must be spelt out for increasing the number berlow current levels or decreasing same in a capricicious manner. We must trust the President to do the right thing and avoid micromanaging his moves.
--Norbert A. Aminzia

Ghana our mother land, we should remember is a developing country and there is the need to develop so many sectors of the economy compared to any developed country. It is therefore important to have more ministers to tackle the various problems in the different sectors. The most important thing is to make sure that the ministers are competent, hardworking with positve results andd not corrupt.
-- Isaac Boateng

I don't think the president would behave irresponsibly to just appoint people who wouldn't have anything to do in the ministry to just hold the position and then receive salaries, no no he won't do that. I believe he knows the quantum of work around him and the number of people he'll need to finish the work within a specified period of time to bring the good people of ghana out of the mess done by Rawlings and the NDC. so as for the number of the ministers, no question!!!!
-- kofi offei

For such a small country with that many ministers, it looks as if more than 70% of them are grossly inefficient, or are not up to the job. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
-- Kobina

Ghana is a very unfortunate country whose export revenues are only used to pay the salaries and allowances of ministers and party functionaries. In civilised democracies like canada and australia one could count as less as 35
--SAMUEL AKOWUAH

Having taken into account the size of NDC and NPP govts, something tells me that if it was that easy for the number of ministers to come as low as in the 30s these govts would not have gone as high as they did. This is why I think a number close to 50 is more reasonable than the most chosen one of 30-40.
-Dela

what are they doing with 70 ministries? Is ministries a new presidential special initiative to create jobs for the clonies?
--ennin paul

If my memory serves me right, at one time Dr. Addo Kufuor was handling three ministries with relative ease and distinguished himself to the extent that Check Point Ltd, a large printing/publishing house awarded him the "Minister of the Year" award. If he can do it, what stops others from performing similarly given that our economy is in no position to sustain the present number?
--Calus Von Brazi

The current number of ministers is a waste of public resources. Ghana as a small country should have ministers not more than 40. This will save the country which is currently under HIPC. President Kuffour should critical assess the financial implication of the appointment of various minister. Can't we have ministry of transport that takes care of road, highway, port & harbour. I am highly disappointed with Kuffour's creation of unnecessary ministries.
--Emmanuel Obeng Atuah

It is hoped that which ever political party wins the 2004 general elections will, for the sake of the economy and in order to promote results-based management, reduce the ministerial appointments to at least 40. In so doing, government can utilise the savings for other pressing socio-economic needs. Also, the savings could be used to top up the salaries of the new ministers. The current salaries of the ministers are too low and something must be done about it.
-- Akwasi Asibey

How does one define "ideal" in this regard when most of us do not even know the enormity of the myriads of problems. Didn't Kuffuor and the NPP accuse the NDC of too large a number but only turned around with a presidential confession and increased the numbers. But even with the numbers as they stand now are things working out faster as anticipated? Let's stop kidding and be serious for once.
--Ben

The issue of political appointment is very crucial. The prospective ministries need to be covered by efficient people who will deliver in the interestof economic growth and development. However the number should be cut to the size of our economic, so that the ordinary tax payer is not over stretched. The problem here is that there are so many people showing their faces for favour of appointments and the like; so the leadership are compelles to push them into the minisries as deputies#1 and deputies#2 etc, and such a practice over stretch the already fragileeconomy to the disadvantage of tax payer and for that matter the public. The Government must be conscious about this and cut the ministeral size to 50- 60 make them work to the fullest of their appointmentNow those who show their faces for favour because of (maybe) their loyalty to the party , should be given the push to enter into real business that would bring economic income to the state and also boost employment for the unemployedThe issue is crucial and the government must be careful Thank you.
-- NANA ASAMOA,EVANS

Dear reader,it is not something new that Ghana has << 70 >> ministers and deuties. In a true democratic nation a new ministry can be created at any time if it's needed to. What every one shuold know is we are not under a detectorship Government where the head is the only one to talk. For the fast growth the nation any reasonable new ministry created is welcome.
-- Kay Mensah

They are only spending our money and not doing anything. That money can be use to help sponsor education and Health
--Bright Alords

Some rationalization needs to be brought to the size of the president’s executive.
-- Yaw Donkor

This is my list of useless ministries

Senior Minister (the most usless invention by Kufuor)

"Modernisation of the Capital City" should be scrapped

Special Presidential Initiatives should be scrapped

Private Sector Development should be under "Finance & Economic Planning"

Regional Cooperation & NEPAD should be scrapped. "Reg coop" goes to foreign affairs and NEPAD under "economy ministry"

"Communications and Technology" should merge with "Science & Enviroment" to form "some appropriate name"
"Ports, Harbours & Railways" should merge with "Roads, Highways & Transport" to form Ministry of transport

"Employment & Manpower Development" should merge with "Work & Housing"

All Ministers of State should be fired

One Deputy minister per ministry
-- Col. Acquah (Ghana)