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Nduom to work with 14 ministries in administration with 40 ministers

Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom

Presidential hopeful of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has declared that a government led by him will be run with only fourteen (14) ministries.

The ministries, he explained, will work with a sense of urgency to change lives of the people and transform socio-economic growth of Ghana.

The 14 ministries, he revealed, will include Finance and Economic Planning, Public Service, Foreign Affairs, Transportation (including road, railways, aviation), Defence, Health, Education and Trade.

The rest, according to the PPP standard-bearer, are Human Services (including labour, social welfare, employment and youth affairs), Agriculture, Public Works (including water, housing), Energy, Interior, Justice (excluding the Office Attorney-General which is to be made an autonomous public service entity to fight corruption effectively in the system – public and private).

“In total my administration will not have more than forty (40) ministers (including deputies) if Ghanaian electorate gives me the mandate to become president in theDecember 7 poll,” Dr. Nduom reiterated.

This, he indicated, will mean making certain public service organisations such as the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the Ghana Statistical Service more effective in providing policy advice and information.

Dr. Nduom gave further explanations to how he intends to govern  this country with just 40 Ministers should he become the next President of Ghana, in a statement under the subject: Increasing The Effectiveness Of The Public Service From The Top By Reducing The Size And Cost Of Government Administration Under President Papa Kwesi Nduom.” 

According to the statement, it will require the strengthening of the Civil Service with Permanent Secretaries (now Chief Directors) who will be required to do more to ensure the effective administration of their ministries.

Dr. Nduom said a professional class of civil servants will be recruited, trained, equipped with modern technology and given appropriate remuneration.

“With the creation of a strong Ministry of Public Service, they will also be given aggressive performance requirements to meet,” he explained further.

He stressed that the Civil Service will be expected to perform as the permanent arm of government that would be able to administer the country with or without the political arm.

He mentioned that a comprehensive remuneration package for the Service will do away with the provision of vehicles, houses, telephone, water, electricity and other such facilities for service personnel.

Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom

That, in the estimation of Dr. Nduom, will make it possible for government to budget and manage the cost of administration better.

“This will also apply to the entire public services so that those who work for government will receive a consolidated pay that will allow them to purchase their own housing, vehicles, utility services, etc.

…The Office of the President will be tasked to work with the private sector to find cost effective ways for government employees – education, health, police, military, judicial services, local government, parliamentary service etc. to gain access to credit to acquire their own housing and transportation.

“An important part of this policy direction is making local administration responsible for development not only in name but in terms of performance and funding,” it said.

…Decentralisation, the statement noted, is an essential element in keeping central government small and cost effective.

“I have tasked experts at funding local government to present ideas for financing local development for consideration.

…Centralised public organisations dealing with education, health, police, fire, prison and such services will also become progressively decentralized.

…We need to find a different, more effective way of ensuring government oversight in the regions.

In Dr. Nduom’s opinion, the position of regional minister needs to be re-examined.

He said a review will be performed to determine what role, if any, that regional administrations should play going forward.

This, the PPP flag-bearer said, will be done as part of a comprehensive programme of de-politicisation of local administration.

“In the same regard, I will propose changes to the Constitution to ensure that all District, Municipal and Metropolitan Chief Executives and Assembly members are elected.  This will allow for a comprehensive restructuring of local administration that will put more emphasis and responsibility for leadership, planning and development on district administration to eliminate bottlenecks currently experienced from regional and central administrations,” he added.

“I will strengthen Parliament and make Parliamentarians strong, confident and important members of society.  Therefore I will not compromise the status of Parliament by appointing a Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.  I do not believe in mixing the legislature with the executive.  Parliamentarians should choose their own leaders and they should owe allegiance to Parliament, not to the President.  In the same vein, the process will be started to address the anomaly of having Parliamentarians serve as Ministers of State.  In a developing country such as Ghana, we need our public servants to devote their full attention to their work,” Dr. Nduom affirmed.

 

Source: Ghana/todaygh.com/Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu

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