The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says President Akufo-Addo’s refusal to reshuffle and reduce the size of his government shows how insensitive he is to the plight of Ghanaians.

The party says the President does not appreciate the extent of the economic crisis the country is facing by keeping a large size of government. 

The National Communications Officer of the party, Mr Sammy Gyamfi said the actions of President Akufo-Addo mean he does not respect the suffering of Ghanaians. 

Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday, the outspoken politician said any responsible leader would have downsized government considering the hardship the country is facing.

“This so-called reshuffle has once again highlighted the insensitivity and the intransigence of the Akufo-Addo Bawumia because we all know the times we are living in. This country is in crisis. 

“Our economy has been so mismanaged that today it is in bankruptcy such that we cannot even service our debt such that we are compelling our creditors to accept crude haircuts on coupon rates they are entitled. 

“That is how serious the crisis we have plunged and what any responsible government should be doing is to show prudence and frugality in its expenditure.

“Where we make it imperative for any responsible leader to downsize and to reduce drastically the government and its expenditure and not this insults to Ghanaians,” he said. 

A Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has described President Akufo-Addo’s recent appointments as no ministerial reshuffle at all.

According to him, the exercise mainly filled vacancies in government where there have been resignations, complemented with token movements that really do not carry any weight.

In effect, the exercise fell far short of the expectations of members of the public who have been clamouring for a real reshuffle.

Since Ghana’s economy started showing signs of instability, a section of Ghanaians called for a ministerial reshuffle and a downsized government, he said.

This call initially was met with indifference. 

However, when it became incessant the President finally replied saying, “The calls come for all kinds of reasons; NDC wanting to destabilise the government is one. There are people who are also looking for jobs.”

Six months later, President Akufo-Addo reshuffled some ministers in his government.

But this has not met the expectations of many Ghanaians.