Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee (CRC), Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, has clarified that proposals to cap the number of ministers are intended primarily to shield Presidents from intense political pressure, rather than serve solely as a cost-cutting measure.
Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV, Prof. Prempeh explained that the current constitutional arrangement exposes Presidents to relentless demands for appointments, particularly from political allies and interest groups.
“Not necessarily to save cost. It is also to just unburden the President,” he said.
According to him, engagements with former top public office holders revealed that Presidents are often overwhelmed by expectations to create positions or offer appointments to satisfy supporters.
“When we had meetings with people who have held this position at the highest level, it became obvious that they are under tremendous pressure for patronage jobs,” Prof. Prempeh stated.
He noted that in the absence of a clear constitutional ceiling, Presidents find it difficult to reject appointment requests, even when such roles may not be necessary for effective governance.
“As long as there is no limit, it is difficult to tell the last person that ‘I can’t give you this job’,” he explained.
Prof. Prempeh added that setting a constitutional cap would provide Presidents with a legitimate basis to decline excessive demands while better managing expectations within political networks.
“So in a way, sometimes they are begging for their hands to be tied,” he remarked.
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