President John Mahama is expected to announce sweeping restrictions on the perks and privileges that public officials enjoyed under the previous administration.
This forms part of a broader effort to cut costs and promote modest governance.
In an exclusive interview 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 added that the administration is already showing a firm 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 also stated that the controversial new fuel levy will be “scrupulously accounted for” and reiterated the President’s earlier stance against lavish governance.
“In government, we have done things that show that we are committed to saving costs,” he stated.
He confirmed that under President Mahama, members of the executive branch will no longer benefit from 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.”
Mr Ofosu Kwakye also indicated that President Mahama has banned the use of DStv and other satellite television subscriptions at the Jubilee House, with plans underway to extend the policy to all government agencies.
The move, according to the government, is part of a broader cost-saving agenda to eliminate non-essential public spending and demonstrate modesty in governance.
He disclosed that no office at the presidency is currently allowed to subscribe to pay-TV services.
“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,” he said.
“You would say that that is a trivial matter, but he has done that. Because when you computed the cost, it was significant money.
Source: Prince Adu-Owusu
