Ghana can function with just 19 ministers – Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu

Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, the majority leader in parliament, has stated that the nation needs to examine the excessive number of ministerial nominations.

He said that Ghana could be run with just 19 cabinet members.

He claims that having fewer ministers than there are now will ease the strain on the public coffers.

In his remarks at a public lecture on Tuesday at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), he highlighted that the 1992 Constitution limits the President’s power to designate cabinet members to a maximum of nineteen.

The Majority Leader therefore posited that there is no need to appoint many ministers, when only nineteen cabinet ministers are actually needed to decide on government policies.

“The Constitution provides in Article 76(1), that there shall be a cabinet which shall consist of the President, the Vice President and not more than nineteen ministers of state.”

“Given the role of cabinet ministers, that is for running the state efficiently and assisting the President in the determination of policy of his government, it is my contention that apart from regional ministers, the number of central government ministers may not have to exceed 19 as contained in the Constitution.”

“And that means ministries shall also not have to exceed 19.”

“All ministers to be relevant and to be able to assist in the evolution and determination of policies in their sectors, must be cabinet ministers.”

“The excess numbers must be cut off and that will significantly reduce public expenditure. For the avoidance of doubt, the Constitution must provide for that”, he explained.

Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also added that there is the need for the state to consider competent individuals to man various ministerial positions. This he said, will help in the development of the country at large.