A flagbearer hopeful of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyepong, has promised to appoint only 54 ministers to run his government should he be elected as flagbearer of the party and subsequently the President of Ghana.
He said by doing that, his government would demonstrate exemplary leadership in its quest to implement stern measures.
“Our governments have been too large, so that’s the first thing to send a strong signal. It’s not about the quantum of money you save by downsizing the government but the moral message you send to the Ghanaian people that you are serious about what you are doing.
“Cut down the government perks in Ghana right now; it appears people enjoy government perks more than the work that they are supposed to do. It’s important as leaders to lead by example, and that’s what I’ve said.
“We’ll cut down the government. I’ll work with a 54 ministerial team, and that’s a stark departure from what we’ve used in the 4th Republic. That’s a major departure from what you are seeing, so it’s a policy plan,” Mr Agyepong assured during his campaign launch on Tuesday, July 11.
According to him, there is a need for the country to work towards balancing its budgets, explaining that operating on deficit financing was not a sustainable way to run a government.
Mr Kwabena Agyepong further vowed that his government would be significantly different, stating that he would ensure that Ghanaians get value for money.
“It’s not about rhetoric or sloganeering. It’s about real cuts that would ensure that you can free the resources that we require to support youth regeneration, to support entrepreneurship, and the things that we need to rebuild our economy.”