The Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has criticized President John Dramani Mahama for forming the largest government in Ghana’s history.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament during a debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Jinapor argued that President Mahama’s administration is one of the largest in terms of cost to the national treasury. This, he noted, goes against the President’s earlier promise to create a lean government, as he has appointed a total of 100 ministers and deputy ministers in disguise.
Jinapor pointed out that President Mahama has appointed Dr. Valarie Sawyer as Senior Presidential Adviser for Government Affairs, a position that holds the rank of a Cabinet Minister who is entitled to the same salary, emoluments, and conditions of service as any other Cabinet Minister.
Additionally, he mentioned that the President has appointed various presidential advisers, including presidential adviser for economy, presidential adviser for 24-hour economy, and special aid to the President.
According to Abu Jinapor there are also numerous staffers, such as the Presidential Staffer for the Black Star Experience and five policy advisers to the Vice President.
He highlighted that the President has appointed 16 presidential staffers to oversee the country’s 16 regions, which, he argued, are effectively functioning as Deputy Ministers of State, further adding to the financial burden on the national budget.
Jinapor clarified that his comments were not made from a partisan standpoint but from his experience as a former Deputy Chief of Staff, where he gained insight into the cost on national exchequer.
