The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has reiterated his commitment to creating a lean yet effective government by limiting the number of ministers to 60.

Speaking at the launch of the NDC’s manifesto in Winneba, Central Region, on August 24, Mahama also pledged that he would work to abolish the payment of ex-gratia and cut out waste and ostentation in government when elected in December.

“We will run the leanest but most efficient government under the Fourth Republic by appointing not more than 60 ministers and deputy ministers in our bid to cut down on government expenditure,” he explained.

Mr. Mahama said his administration will streamline government agencies by merging ministries and eliminating those that duplicate functions, ensuring a more efficient and cost-effective government.

He also chastised the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the poor governance, which he claims has plunged the country into an economic crisis.

He stated that the current NPP administration has been the "biggest political scam that has been pulled on Ghanaians since our independence.”

The NDC flagbearer argued that it is time for the NPP administration to exit office, as they have decimated the country’s democracy beyond recognition.

“They have destroyed livelihoods and families and pushed millions of our people below the poverty line. Your vote on December 7 will end the tyranny, the cronyism, the corruption and the hardship and pave the way for the vision, experience and trustworthiness that I, John Dramani Mahama is going to restore to the Flagstaff House,” he said.

Mr Mahama said that Ghana is in crisis and called on patriotic citizens to rise and reset the nation.

He criticised the NPP for repackaging their 2024 manifesto with enticing promises, asserting that "President Akufo-Addo is the president Ghana never got."

"And indeed, I dare say that his much-touted economic whiz kid, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is also the economic messiah Ghana never got," he added.

Mr. Mahama urged Ghanaians not to allow the country to fail again and to vote for change in the upcoming December 7 general election.