In a bold move to reduce government expenditure, Ghana’s newly elected President John Mahama has downsized the country’s ministries from 30 to 23.
The executive order, officially published in a gazette on January 9, came just days after Mahama assumed office.
This restructuring eliminates several ministries, including those of Information, Sanitation and Water Resources, National Security, Railway Development, Parliamentary Affairs, Public Enterprises, and Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
These ministries, which were part of the administration under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, will no longer operate in the Mahama-led government.
The restructuring is part of a broader effort to streamline the executive branch and prioritize key areas.
The new cabinet includes ministries focused on Finance, Health, Interior, Defence, Education, Energy and Green Transition, Roads and Highways, Transport, Justice, Lands and Natural Resources, and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, among others.
Additionally, the fields of Foreign Affairs, Communication and Digital Technology, Environment, Science and Technology, Youth Development, Labour, Agriculture, and Trade will also remain integral parts of the government’s operations.
Mahama, who served as President of Ghana from 2012 to 2017, returned to power after a decisive victory over former Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia.
Mahama secured 6,328,397 votes (56.55%), while Bawumia garnered 4,657,304 votes (41.6%). Bawumia conceded defeat before the official results were announced.
This move to reduce the size of the cabinet stands in stark contrast to the policy of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who expanded his country’s ministries from 44 to 48 in 2023.
Tinubu’s decision has been widely criticized amid Nigeria’s escalating cost-of-living crisis, highlighting the divergent approaches to managing public resources in the West African region.
Mahama’s decision underscores his commitment to fiscal discipline and government efficiency as Ghana faces its own economic challenges.
