Current presidential staff salaries inherited from Akufo-Addo era — Kwakye Ofosu

Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has dismissed claims that compensation for presidential staff has increased under the Mahama administration despite a reduction in the number of political appointees at the Presidency.

According to him, the allegations being circulated by some opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) communicators and media platforms are inaccurate because the current administration is operating under salary structures approved before President John Dramani Mahama assumed office.

Addressing the public on Monday, June 15, he stressed that the government has fulfilled its promise to reduce the number of political appointees and ministers and also retained the compensation arrangements inherited from the previous administration.

"There have been a number of misleading claims, some in the media and some by political activists predominantly belonging to the New Patriotic Party. This morning, there were publications which sought to create the impression that President Mahama had increased the salaries of political appointees at the Presidency, and therefore they said that even though there had been a reduction in the numbers, the salaries had ballooned," Kwakye Ofosu said.

The minister explained that under Ghana's Constitution, the President cannot unilaterally determine the salaries and conditions of service of Article 71 office holders.

He noted that no new emoluments committee has been established by President Mahama since taking office, meaning the salary structure currently in force was determined under the previous administration.

"For the avoidance of doubt, President Mahama has not set up a committee to determine the emoluments and working conditions of Article 71 office holders, so the salaries and conditions of Article 71 office holders who are working today under President Mahama were determined by the government that left office on 6 January 2025," he stated.

According to him, the Presidency currently employs 808 staff made up of 233 political appointees and 575 civil and public servants, compared to 953 staff under the previous administration in 2024.