The Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has affirmed that the Mahama-led government remains committed to its decision to cut expenditure, including the ban on DSTV subscriptions at the Jubilee House.
Speaking in an interview on Dwaso Nsem on Adom FM, Mr Kwakye Ofosu revealed that his office is currently the only one at the Presidency with access to DSTV. He explained that this is an exception granted by President John Dramani Mahama due to the monitoring responsibilities attached to his role.
“A directive has been issued regarding DSTV at the Presidency. Apart from my office, no other office uses DSTV. Mine was treated as a special case because of my work as Minister for Government Communications,” he said.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu emphasized that the restriction forms part of broader efforts by the Mahama administration to reduce government spending and ease pressure on the national budget. He noted that during the 2024 election campaign, President Mahama acknowledged that government expenditure had become excessive and pledged to implement measures to cut costs if elected.
As part of these commitments, the President promised to limit the number of ministers to 60. Currently, the number stands at 58 following the passing of Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Murtala Mohammed, whose positions have not yet been replaced.
The Abura Asebu Kwamankese MP also highlighted a reduction in the number of political appointees at the Presidency.
He revealed that under the previous administration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the number of presidential staffers between 2017 and 2020 was about 361. The current administration has reduced that figure by approximately 100, with President Mahama expected to present the updated list of presidential staff to Parliament in the coming days.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu further disclosed that other cost-cutting measures have been implemented, including the abolition of fuel allocations for political appointees. “Fuel allowance and allocations for appointees have been abolished. Myself and other appointees now buy our own fuel,” he said.
He stressed that these measures reflect the government’s determination to demonstrate fiscal discipline while fulfilling campaign promises to reduce the cost of governance.
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