Job for the boys -NDC

NDC Condemns NPP?s Big Sized Government

The Acting General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, (NDC) Bede Ziedeng has taken issue with the number of ministers appointed by President Kufuor for his second term saying the size of the government is too large.

President Kufuor yesterday named 53 nominees for ministerial and deputy ministerial positions for approval by parliament.

The 53 nominees in addition to the 35 already passed by parliament bring the total number of ministers in this administration to 88, eight more than what pertained in the first term of the NPP administration.

This according to Mr. Ziedeng is unacceptable.

? It is strange in some ministries he has as many as three deputy minister, I mean this as far as I am concerned appears like job for the boys, It doesn?t show that he wants to do real job, as many as five ministries with three deputy ministers doesn?t amount to a system of job for the boys? He asked.

According to him the deputy ministers are coming in with additional expenditure on government budget because they are going to be provided with vehicles, salaries and fuel, stressing, ?the issue really is that is the president sensitive to the plight of the people of this country and is he doing things to satisfy himself??

?His so called Positive Change Chapter one, what did he deliver with his ministers, and so what is the guarantee that is if he increases the size of government, it is not going to be a question of increase in expenditure ?.he said.

All but two of the portfolios are new additions to the existing government structure.

The Ministry of presidential affairs to be headed by chief of staff Kwadwo Mpiani was scrapped during the NPP?s first term in office, but has again been revived.

The other addition is the Public Sector Reforms ministry headed by Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, which will invariably take on the responsibility of the senior minister?s office.