The controversy surrounding the size of President John Dramani Mahama’s presidential staff unfolded with accusations and counter-accusations, ultimately highlighting the importance of transparency and accountability in government appointments. Samuel Abu Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Damongo, ignited the debate by alleging that President Mahama had significantly bloated his staff, exceeding a purported promise of a lean government with a maximum of 60 ministers and a limited number of presidential staffers. Jinapor claimed that the President had appointed over 100 staffers, a number he considered excessive and a betrayal of the President’s commitment to fiscal prudence.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State for Government Communications, stepped forward to directly refute Jinapor’s claims. He categorically denied the existence of an overstuffed presidential staff, asserting that the actual number of appointees was substantially lower than alleged and even lower than that of the previous administration. Kwakye Ofosu maintained that only 30 individuals had been appointed to presidential staff positions, a figure he presented as evidence of the President’s commitment to a streamlined and efficient government. This stark contrast in numbers became the crux of the public debate, raising questions about the source and veracity of the conflicting information.
Kwakye Ofosu underscored the government’s commitment to transparency by emphasizing that all presidential staff appointments had been publicly announced. He contrasted this approach with the practices of previous administrations, where, he claimed, the public often remained unaware of such appointments until a list was formally submitted to Parliament. This proactive disclosure, according to Kwakye Ofosu, demonstrated the government’s commitment to open governance and accountability to the public. He pointed to official statements released and signed by himself as proof of this transparency, asserting that the names of all 27 presidential staffers had been duly publicized.
Further clarifying the composition of the presidential team, Kwakye Ofosu explained the roles of three additional individuals appointed to assist the President with specific interventions. These individuals, designated as directors or presidential aides, held a different status and ranking than the 27 formally recognized presidential staffers. He emphasized that these directors were not classified as presidential staffers, thus bringing the total number of individuals directly supporting the President to 30. Kwakye Ofosu reiterated that beyond these 30 individuals, no other staffers or aides had been appointed, firmly rejecting the claims of an inflated presidential staff.
The differing accounts presented by Jinapor and Kwakye Ofosu highlighted the need for clear and readily accessible information regarding government appointments. While Kwakye Ofosu insisted on the accuracy of the publicly announced figures and emphasized the government’s transparent approach, the allegations raised by Jinapor suggested a potential disconnect between official pronouncements and perceived reality. This discrepancy underscores the importance of ongoing scrutiny and public access to information to ensure accountability in government operations.
This incident emphasized the critical role of clear communication and accurate record-keeping in matters of public appointment. The contrasting narratives presented by both parties underscored the need for accessible and verifiable information to allow the public to independently assess the size and composition of the presidential staff. This incident served as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government, and the need for mechanisms to ensure accurate reporting and public access to information regarding such appointments.
