Ghana’s new president scraps 7 ministries to save cost

President John Mahama has axed seven government ministries as part of efforts to rein in public spending under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) austerity programme.

The move, announced in a gazette dated 9 January, reduces the number of ministries from 30 to 23, aligning with Mahama’s pledge to streamline government operations for greater efficiency.

The retained ministries include finance, health, interior, defence, education, energy and green transition, roads and highways, and transport. The president’s office confirmed the decision in an emailed statement.

Returning to power after a previous stint as president between 2012 and 2017, Mahama defeated former Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia in a closely fought election.

Mahama secured 56.55 per cent of the vote, while Bawumia, who conceded defeat before the final count, garnered 41.6 per cent.

Mahama’s cost-cutting agenda stands in contrast to Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who expanded the number of ministries to 48 in 2023 from 44 under his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.