Former Attorney General, Nii Ayikoi Otoo, has criticised ministerial appointments made under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, describing them as the most excessive and damaging in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

Speaking on Citi FM on Wednesday, January 7, 2025, as part of discussions marking 34 years of the 1992 Constitution, Mr Ayikoi Otoo argued that the unchecked expansion of government under the Akufo-Addo administration highlighted the urgent need for constitutional limits on the number of ministers.

He said the appointment of more than 100 ministers and deputy ministers at the peak of the previous administration was unnecessary and undermined effective governance, adding that such bloated structures weaken coordination and strain public finances.

According to him, large ministerial teams often breed rivalry rather than cooperation, with deputies competing with substantive ministers rather than focusing on service delivery. He warned that these internal tensions ultimately reduce efficiency and distract from national development priorities.

Mr Ayikoi Otoo contrasted this with President John Mahama’s decision to operate with a leaner government of about 50 ministers, describing it as a more disciplined and constitutionally faithful approach that enhances accountability and coherence.

Reflecting on his role in Ghana’s constitutional drafting process, the former Attorney General said the framers envisioned a compact executive arm, stressing that governance was never meant to be driven by political reward systems.

He attributed the expansion under Akufo-Addo largely to political considerations rather than administrative necessity, noting that the desire to reward party loyalists led to unnecessary appointments that complicated decision-making.