The Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has claimed that President John Dramani Mahama appointed a total of “100 ministers”, in disguise, despite public assertions that he had reduced the size of government. He has, therefore, raised concerns over the financial burden posed by the large number of  presideintal appointees.

Speaking during the debate on the 2025 State of the Nation Address, Mr. Jinapor emphasised the increasing costs associated with presidential appointments. He argued that the growing number of advisors and staffers were both unnecessary and costly for the national budget.

Mr Jinapor pointed specifically to Dr. Valerie Sawyer, Senior Presidential Advisor responsible for Government Affairs, who holds a position at the rank of a Cabinet Minister.

The MP argued that the financial package for Dr. Sawyer, which includes salary, benefits, and office expenses, was equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister who also serves as a Member of Parliament.

He questioned the justification for such appointments, particularly those involving positions like Presidential Advisors on Economy, 24-Hour Economy, Special Aid to the President and Diaspora Affairs.

“The President has appointed numerous staffers, including Presidential Advisors for various sectors, yet many of these appointees do not undergo parliamentary vetting,” Mr. Jinapor noted.

He referenced the extensive list of appointments, predicting that the President might soon appoint a “Presidential Advisor on ‘nkukɔ nkitin nkti’ or ‘Okada’ business.”

He also condemned the appointment of 16 Presidential Staffers tasked with overseeing the 16 regions. He compared these positions to that of Deputy Ministers of State, suggesting that these regional staffers effectively mirror the role of a Deputy Minister while adding unnecessary costs to the national exchequer.

He also criticized the President’s extensive media and communication team, which includes one Presidential Advisor for Media, four Directors of Communication, five Deputy Directors, two Communication Specialists, five Technical Communication Assistants, one Media Aide, one Assistant Media Liaison Officer and one Communications Consultant.

“Mr. Speaker, I’ve done the mathematics, and I can confidently state that the President has effectively appointed 100 Ministers and Deputy Ministers,” he stated, stressing that the financial implications of these appointments could not be ignored.

Despite his strong critique, Mr. Jinapor made it clear that his comments were not made from a partisan standpoint.

Drawing on his previous experience as Deputy Chief of Staff, he called for greater prudence in government spending and better management of public funds.

He stressed that his criticism was based on the need for efficiency in governance, describing  the current system was “wasteful and unsustainable”.

“I do this not from a partisan lens, but as someone who has had the privilege to serve in government. I know how it works. These appointments are excessive, and they place an undue burden on the national budget,” Mr. Jinapor said.

He urged the government to reassess its approach to appointments and focus on reducing unnecessary expenditures for the benefit of the country’s financial stability.