President John Mahama is expected to announce sweeping restrictions on the perks and privileges that public officials enjoyed under the previous administration, as part of a broader effort to cut costs and promote modest governance.
Speaking on PM Express on Tuesday, government spokesperson Felix Ofosu Kwakye said the President is leading by example with significant cutbacks at the highest levels of government.
“In the coming days, President Mahama will announce many restrictions on some of the perks that public officials used to enjoy under the former administration,” he revealed.
He noted that the Mahama administration is already demonstrating a strong commitment to prudent spending.
“President Mahama is operating a modest government. You are aware that this government is the smallest in the history of the Fourth Republic.
“He promised 60 ministers; he is actually operating with 56. When it comes to presidential staffers and the support staff, I can assure you that it will be roughly half of what we came to meet. We are talking about 336 people in Akufo-Addo’s presidency.”
Mr Ofosu Kwakye further explained that the controversial new fuel levy will be “scrupulously accounted for,” reiterating the President’s pledge to eliminate extravagant governance.
“In government, we have done things that show that we are committed to saving costs,” he added.
He also confirmed that under President Mahama, members of the executive will no longer receive ex gratia payments.
“President Mahama has said that people who work under him in the executive—of course, he does not have control over the legislature and the judiciary—but the executive, they cannot look forward to receiving ex gratia.”
Additionally, he revealed that President Mahama has banned the use of DStv and other satellite television subscriptions at the Jubilee House, with plans to extend the policy to all government agencies.
The move, according to the government, is part of a wider cost-saving agenda to eliminate non-essential public spending and encourage modesty in public service.
“I can reveal to you that if you come to this house, there’s no office in this house that is allowed to subscribe to DStv or any satellite television,” Mr Ofosu Kwakye said.
“You might say that is a trivial matter, but he has done that. Because when you computed the cost, it was significant money.”
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