Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mahama Ayariga, has assured the Minority Caucus that the government will not exceed its self-imposed limit of 60 ministers.
The administration, he said, remains committed to the pledge it made while in opposition to run a lean, efficient, and disciplined government.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Friday, Mr. Ayariga accused the Minority of harbouring what he described as “diabolical intentions” to politicise the matter should the number of ministerial appointments go beyond the promised ceiling.
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This followed complaints by the Minority Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, that parliamentary questions have piled up because ministers fail to make time to attend sittings and provide responses.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has also criticised the administration over the number of ministers, arguing that the size of government is too small to handle the workload.
He urged President Mahama to increase the number of ministers and apologise to Ghanaians for failing to fulfil that campaign promise.
Mr. Ayariga, however, argued that the government’s resolve is to uphold efficiency, accountability, and fiscal discipline by keeping ministerial appointments within the agreed limit.
Mr. Ayariga explained that maintaining a smaller ministerial team would help reduce pressure on the public purse and improve coordination within government, adding that bloated administrations in the past had often led to waste, duplication of roles, and weak supervision.
The size of government has been a major political issue over the years, especially following the previous administration’s appointment of over 120 ministers and deputy ministers.
Critics, including civil society organisations and opposition parties, argued that such large governments placed a heavy burden on taxpayers and undermined efforts to control public spending.
During his time in opposition, President John Dramani Mahama criticised what he described as excessive and wasteful ministerial appointments and pledged to limit the number of ministers to 60 if voted for.
That promise became a key campaign message, particularly among young voters and fiscal policy advocates who demanded leaner governance and better use of public funds.
Since assuming office, the government’s ministerial nominations have been closely monitored by the Minority and the public, with concerns periodically raised over possible breaches of the pledged limit.
It was against this backdrop of heightened public scrutiny and political tension that the Minority recently questioned the government’s commitment to the 60 ministers cap, prompting Mr. Ayariga’s strong response in Parliament.