President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to a lean and efficient government by swearing in 13 deputy ministers and a Minister of State at the Jubilee House. The swearing-in of deputy ministers is a strategic move to ensure effective governance while maintaining a reduced government size.
During the ceremony, President Mahama reiterated his promise to establish a cost-effective and performance-driven administration. He reminded Ghanaians of his promise to create a lean, efficient, cost-effective, and performance-driven government.
He emphasized that the appointment of deputy ministers was based on the workload of specific ministries. “Our commitment to a lean government is not merely about reducing the number of ministerial appointees or reducing the numbers at the Presidency. It is grounded in our firm belief that government must exercise fiscal discipline by ensuring that public resources are used efficiently and responsibly.”
“I have carefully exercised discretion in appointing deputy ministers only for ministries with comparatively heavier workloads,” he emphasized.
The ministries that received deputy ministers include finance, agriculture, energy, roads, works and housing, tourism, interior, trade and business, education, justice, lands and natural resources, local governments, chieftaincy and religious affairs, and defense. President Mahama justified these appointments by highlighting the critical roles these ministries play in national development.
“The highly demanding responsibilities in these ministries require additional support to ensure swift and effective implementation of the programs and policies that we have set ourselves,” he explained.
Finalizing Government Appointments
The swearing-in of deputy ministers brings the government closer to its final composition. President Mahama announced that he would submit a final list of four additional deputy ministers to Parliament this week, completing the administration’s target of 60 ministers.
He expressed his gladness with the early approval of ministers by parliament. This, he said, will enable them to get to work to roll out their commitment to the people of Ghana.
Fiscal Discipline and Policy Implementation
The swearing-in of deputy ministers also aligns with the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline. President Mahama stressed the importance of ensuring public resources are used efficiently and responsibly. He also highlighted that public funds should primarily benefit the Ghanaian people. “Public funds must go primarily into investments that benefit the Ghanaian people directly and those who administer those funds and use it in pursuit of that objective must not be the largest beneficiary of same,” he added.
The President referenced the recently presented budget, which includes strategic interventions aimed at economic revitalization and job creation. He said the budget outlined specific interventions aimed at revitalizing the economy and reducing hardship. He cited programs such as the National Apprenticeship Program, Women’s Development Bank, and the One Million Coders Program as key initiatives to foster economic growth and job creation. He assured that these initiatives, along with targeted funds for infrastructure projects, would directly benefit the people of Ghana.
Expectations for Deputy Ministers
President Mahama charged the newly sworn-in deputy ministers with the responsibility of ensuring effective service delivery. “From each of you who have been appointed as deputy ministers, much is expected from you,” he stated.
He emphasized their role in supporting substantive ministers while maintaining high levels of accountability, diligence, and hard work. He cautioned that he will hold them to the same standards of accountability, diligence, hard work, and sacrifice for Ghana’s collective success.
Addressing concerns about governance ethics, President Mahama reminded them of their obligation to declare their assets. He instructed them to promptly fulfill their assets declaration requirements and submit them to the Auditor General.
He also reinforced the need for prudent travel policies. “Public funds must go primarily into investments that benefit the Ghanaian people directly and those who administer those funds and use it in pursuit of that objective must not be the largest beneficiary of same,” he added.
Leadership and National Development
The swearing-in of deputy ministers marks a significant step in the administration’s governance strategy. President Mahama underscored the urgency of their roles, reminding them of the limited time frame of their mandate. He also encouraged the newly appointed officials to work closely with public service officers to achieve set objectives within the given timeframe. “There are two clocks we hear. For those of us elected by the good people of Ghana to lead them, the clock we hear is the ticking of the first clock of the four-year time frame given to us by the people of Ghana.
The officers you will be working with in the public services have security of tenure, and they hear a more relaxed clock, and that clock ticks towards their retirement age of 60 years. They may therefore not be in as much a hurry as you. You must therefore work to encourage and incentivize them to work at the pace of your four-year mandate that the people of Ghana have given to you,” he advised.
Reaffirming his leadership approach, President Mahama pledged to maintain a lean and resource-driven government. “As long as I am President, my policy will remain clear—a lean, efficient, and resource-driven government of which you have just become a part,” he concluded.
The swearing-in of deputy ministers represents a key milestone in the administration’s efforts to deliver on its governance and economic agenda. With a strong emphasis on efficiency, accountability, and fiscal discipline, the newly appointed officials are expected to contribute to national progress and policy implementation.
