Akufo-Addo's appointments should not drain our scarce economy - Economist

An economist and lecturer at the Kumasi Technical University has underscored the need for the current government to form a size of government that will not drain our resources.

In an interview with Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5fm, Dr. Joseph Yensu said although the appointees designated to the newly created ministries, are competent and experienced, the appointments should not drain the economy of Ghana.

He said, a huge government is a drain on the scarce resource and inimical to socio-economic development.

President Nana Akufo-Addo explained over the week that, the six new ministries will work under the office of the president and that the budget for the office will fund these ministries.

“The six portfolios that are coming out as new portfolios, all these six portfolios will be working under the umbrella or under the aegis of the president. They are not standard ministries that are going to be established, they are all going to function as part of the office of the president. The ministers involved will have their dedicated portfolios and will find their being within the budget of the office of the presidency,” Mr Akufo-Addo explained. But Dr. Yensu says the cost involved must be checked.

''The appointment by Nana Addo is fine but we need to look at the cost involved…If you increase the number of ministerial appointments, it will also correspond to the increase of cost in the country. Do we have the resources to increase the appointments to that level?’’

He added, some of the new ministries could be merged together to cut cost. The duties of the Monitoring and Evaluation Minister and the duties of the Chief of Staff as well as the Senior Minister are duplication of duties.