Senior Minister-designate Yaw Osarfo Marfo says President Nana Akufo-Addo is a liberty to appoint as many ministers as he wants.
According to him, the president is mandated by the 1992 Constitution to appoint ministers for effective management of the country.
Mr. Osafo Maafo made the comment before Parliament’s Appointment Committee Friday, while being vetted for the position.
President Akufo-Addo has come under a barrage of attacks following his appointment of about 32 ministers to help him in government.
Many including policy think tanks have warned the appointees will further drain the nation’s coffers of the near collapse economy.
But Mr. Osafo Maafo maintained that the number of minister will not affect the economy if they are delivering results.
Quoting Article 78(2) which allows the president to appoint ministers as he deems efficient, he said “if the President wants to name his position as an ‘octopus’ ministry so be it”.
Mr. Osafo Maafo justified the Ministry for Railways noting that “since Gordon Guggisberg, there has not been any serious attempt to develop railways. Rail system needs complete overhaul”.
“Financing is also very complicated because you need long-term financing.’ The attention of one minister to do this is not too much’. Left to him, he will appoint two deputies”.
On his role as a Senior Minister, Mr. Osafo Maafo explained that, his role will be to coordinate the economic ministries of government in order to achieve economic transformation of the government.
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