Samuel Abu Jinapor, former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and MP for Damango, has expressed his disappointment and concern over President John Mahama’s ministerial appointments.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Samuel Abu Jinapor stated, “Mahama appoints 100 ministers instead of 60 ministers, he promised.”
Abu Jinapor pointed out that President Mahama had made a promise to the nation to appoint only 60 ministers, but instead, he has appointed a staggering 100 ministers and deputy ministers.
He questioned the President’s decision, saying, “Why do I say this? Take for example, the President has appointed Dr. Valerie Sawyer as senior presidential advisor in charge of government affairs.
Her rank is a cabinet minister who doubles as a member of parliament.”
Samuel Jinapor highlighted the duplication of roles in the President’s appointments, citing the example of Dr. Sawyer’s appointment.
He stated, “So her salary, her emoluments, conditions of service, everything to do with her office is at the same rank as a cabinet minister who doubles as a member of parliament.” He also listed numerous other presidential advisors and staffers, including those in charge of the economy, 24-hour Economy, Special aides to the President, National anti-corruption program, and Diaspora Affairs.
The MP argued that these appointments are, in effect, equivalent to deputy ministers of state, given their roles and responsibilities.
He stated, “Mr. Speaker, I want to submit, I want to submit, I want to submit that these presidential staffers in charge of the 16, 16 regions of our country, in essence, as it relates to the cost on the national exchequer, are in fact, indeed, and in substance, deputy ministers of state.”
Abu Jinapor also criticized the President’s decision to appoint 16 presidential staffers in charge of the 16 regions of the country.
He said, “Mr. Speaker, he appoints 60. And he appoints 16 presidential staffers in charge of the 16 regions of our country.”
He questioned the need for these appointments, stating, “Mr. Speaker, I have done the mathematics, and I want to submit that we have done the mathematics, and I do this not from a partisan lens, but I do this as somebody who had the privilege and honor to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff, I know how it works in terms of the cost on the national exchequer.”
The MP for Damango, Abu Jinapor concluded his statement by reiterating his concern over the President’s appointments.
He said, “The President has appointed a hundred ministers and deputy ministers. The President has established a ministry of youth development. You see, Mr. Speaker, the issue is not about the number of ministers, the issue is about the cost, the issue is about the efficiency, the issue is about the effectiveness.”
-BY Daniel Bampoe
