Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has accused President John Dramani Mahama of ballooning his administration to over 100 ministers, despite claims of downsizing.
Speaking during a heated debate on the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Wednesday, March 5, Jinapor blasted the president for saddling the nation with a sprawling roster of appointees whose costs rival those of vetted Cabinet ministers.
Over 100 ministers appointed
The former Lands and Natural Resources Minister stressed high-profile roles like Dr. Valerie Sawyer, Senior Presidential Advisor on Government Affairs, who enjoys Cabinet-level perks without parliamentary oversight.
He reeled off a dizzying list of titles—Advisors on Economy, 24-Hour Economy, Anti-Corruption, Diaspora Affairs, and even five Policy Advisors to the Vice President—mocking the excess with a jab: “Soon, we’ll have an Advisor for ‘nkukɔ nkitin nkti’ or ‘Okada’ business.”
Abu Jinapor stressed the 16 Presidential Staffers assigned to the regions, arguing they function as de facto Deputy Ministers, contradicting Mahama’s pledge to trim such roles.
“These are Deputy Ministers in all but name, draining the national purse,” he charged.
He also skewered the president’s bloated media team, tallying one Advisor, four Directors, five Deputies, and a slew of communication aides—calling it a wasteful overreach.
“Mahama has effectively appointed 100 ministers and deputies,” Jnapor said, slamming the financial burden on taxpayers.
Drawing from his tenure as Deputy Chief of Staff, he insisted his critique was rooted in fiscal responsibility, not politics.
“I’ve seen the system up close—these appointments are excessive and undermine efficient governance,” he warned and urged a leaner, more prudent administration to safeguard public funds.
By Osumanu Al-Hassan/thenewsbulletin24.com