The Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, has hinted of a possible ministerial reshuffle.

He told Samsom Lardy Anyenini on news analysis programme Newsfile on Saturday that the 110 ministerial appointments are not cast in iron.

“Looking into the crystal ball, it [number of appointees] is going to drop,” he said.

The staggering number of 110 ministers appointed by President Akufo-Addo, is the largest in the country’s history.

President of policy think tank, IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe, criticized the record appointment saying it showed the President failed to insist on "meritocracy."

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He said although government has been honest about requiring the fiscal space to carry out its many programmes, there was no justification for the huge number of appointees.

Sections of Social media also condemned the size of government, noting that the president promised to protect the public purse, but does not seem to be doing so.

Abdul Malik Kweku Baako

In defence of government, Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, argue that the huge number of ministers is needed to assist the President to pursue an ambitious development agenda.

He said a lean government was never one of the NPP's campaign promises.

In a follow-up interview, the President justified his move as a way of executing his administration’s audacious programmes and policies.

However, Abdul Malik Kwaku Baako says the number may soon be whittled down even though he backed it when the announcement was made in 2017. 

"From day one we knew it would drop and so it is going to drop; meaning that some people will be reshuffled, some would change portfolios and some will go home and take a rest," he said.  

He advised the appointees not to be unduly worried regarding the news as it is a feature of political appointments. 

Listen to the audio: