Dr. Jabir Mohammed, a Senior Lecturer in Economics and Finance at the University of Ghana Business School, has called for the elimination of regional minister roles in Ghana, proposing that their roles be absorbed by metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs), which would report directly to the central government. He believes that reducing government size in this way would reduce redundancies, improve coordination, enhance accountability, and significantly cut administrative costs.
In an interview with The High Street Journal, Dr. Mohammed outlined several measures to streamline the government, including reducing the number of ministers and deputies. He suggested scrapping regional minister positions and replacing them with executive or secretarial roles managed by MMDAs, merging ministries such as Information and Communication, and Transport, Aviation, and Railways. He also proposed focusing on technical expertise for certain roles and limiting cabinet appointments to the constitutionally mandated 19 ministers, with no more than 15 deputies, and some ministries operating without deputies.
Dr. Mohammed emphasized that a more efficient government could function with 34 ministers and deputies, supported by a skilled technical workforce, reducing costs and addressing the over-politicization of public office. This is almost half of the 60 ministerial appointments President-elect John Mahama promised in a bid to reduce the size of government from the over 100 appointed by the current government of Nana Akufo-Addo.
Dr. Mohammed urged the incoming administration to adopt a pragmatic approach, noting that success would depend on how economical they are with appointments, especially in emergency situations that demand innovative solutions to complex governance challenges. He further highlighted that such reforms would boost public trust in government and demonstrate a commitment to fiscal responsibility.
His proposal contributes to the national debate on government size and structure, challenging policymakers to adopt more practical, inclusive, and efficient governance models for Ghana’s long-term economic sustainability and growth. Such reforms could set a precedent for cost-effective governance while addressing the nation’s pressing fiscal challenges.
