The Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has reiterated that the administration of John Dramani Mahama remains firmly committed to reducing government expenditure, including the decision to halt DStvsubscriptions at the Jubilee House.
Speaking during an interview on Dwaso Nsem on Adom FM, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu disclosed that his office is currently the only one at the Presidency permitted to use the satellite television service.
According to him, the exemption was granted by President Mahama due to the monitoring duties associated with his role as Minister for Government Communications.
“A directive has been issued concerning DSTV at the Presidency. Aside from my office, no other office uses it. My office was treated as a special case because of the work I do monitoring developments in the media space,” he explained.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu noted that the restriction forms part of a wider strategy by the Mahama administration to rein in government spending and ease pressure on the national budget.
He recalled that during the 2024 election campaign, President Mahama acknowledged that the cost of running government had become excessive and pledged to introduce measures aimed at reducing public expenditure if elected.
As part of those commitments, the President promised to limit the size of his ministerial team to a maximum of 60 ministers. Currently, the number stands at 58 following the passing of Edward Omane Boamah and Murtala Mohammed, whose ministerial positions have not yet been filled.
The Abura Asebu Kwamankese Member of Parliament also highlighted a reduction in the number of political appointees at the Presidency.
He explained that under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the number of presidential staffers between 2017 and 2020 stood at about 361. According to him, the current government has reduced that figure by roughly 100.
President Mahama is expected to present the updated list of presidential staff to Parliament in the coming days.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu further revealed that additional austerity measures have been introduced, including the cancellation of fuel allocations for political appointees.
“Fuel allowances and allocations for appointees have been abolished. Myself and other appointees now purchase our own fuel,” he stated.
He stressed that the measures are intended to demonstrate fiscal discipline while fulfilling the administration’s campaign promise to lower the overall cost of governance.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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