Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, promised not to appoint more than 50 Ministers and Deputy Ministers if he’s elected President after the December 2024 general election.
The incumbent Vice President stressing the need for efficient system of governance said running a lean government will ensure the country saves money.
“…An efficient system of governance will require even fewer ministers. I would have therefore, no more than 50 ministers and deputy ministers.”
Dr. Bawumia speaking at the University of Professional Studies, Accra on Wedesday to unveil his policies for Ghana after being elected the Flagbearer of the NPP, emphasised on the necessity of strengthening the role of the private sector, decentralising the budget and administration, and enhancing the efficiency of institutions and procedures.
He claimed that doing this would guarantee value for money in procurement and increase efficiency.
“The move towards the private sector provision of many public services would create fiscal space of at least 3% of GDP. This represents a major paradigm shift. Additionally, an efficient system of governance will require even fewer ministers,” he added.
He stated that as part of his presidency, a council for independent fiscal responsibility will be established to lower interest rates and budget deficits.
“To sustainably reduce the budget deficit and interest rates, my government will enhance fiscal discipline through an independent fiscal responsibility council enshrined in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2018 (Act 982). The Fiscal Responsibility Act will also be amended to add a fiscal rule that requires that budgeted expenditure in any year does not exceed 105% of the previous year’s tax revenue. This will prevent the experience of budgetary expenditures based on optimistic revenue forecasts which don’t materialize.”
He also touted the achievement of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government in the area of job creation claiming the administration has created 2.1 million jobs between 2017 & 2022.
According to him, this remarkable development is notwithstanding the global economic crisis.
Speaking at his first lecture after being elected the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, (UPSA) on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 Vice President Bawumia disclosed that the public sector recruited 1.2 million people while the private sector created 975,000 jobs according to SSNIT data.
”We recruited 100,000 more health workers, 100,000 more teachers and more than doubled Fire Service personnel and so on. Our government clearly has created more jobs in the last seven years than any other government in the fourth Republic. This is truly remarkable under the circumstances even though we still have to create more jobs.”
Dr. Bawumia stated that notwithstanding the economic crisis, this government has been able to steer the ship of this nation away from catastrophe.
”In the face of the crisis, overall performance of the economy in areas such as GDP growth, industrial growth, trade balance growth, gross international reserves and job created has demonstrated resilience. Available data also shows that notwithstanding the challenging economy we inherited and the global economic crisis that ensued, government has chalked a large number of achievements across the country.”