By Agnes Ansah
Accra, Jan.13, GNA – Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Finance Minister Designate, says the reduction of government ministries from 30 to 23 is a strategic move by the Mahama administration to cut down on expenditure.
He explained that reducing the number of ministries would allow the government to save costs from seven ministries, as the size of government directly impacted the expenditure framework.
Dr. Forson made these comments during his vetting by the Appointments Committee in Parliament on Monday, following his nomination for the position by President John Dramani Mahama.
He was responding to a question from Mr. Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, who asked whether the reduction in ministers and ministries was part of the government’s broader strategy to reduce expenditure.
“Mr. Chairman, the size of government matters…it feeds into the expenditure framework. Reducing government ministries from thirty to twenty-three gives you a savings of seven,” he said.
Dr. Forson explained that maintaining the seven ministries incurred significant costs for the government, and by eliminating these ministries, the government would achieve automatic savings.
He informed the Committee, chaired by Mr. Bernard Ahiafo, First Deputy Speaker and MP for Akatsi South, that the Mahama administration had already implemented other expenditure-reduction measures.
De. Forson assured the Committee that Parliament would be “impressed” with the next budget he would present, should he be approved for the position.
“So, you can understand that as part of the government policy to cut down expenditure, we have already begun and I am sure that in the next budget you will be very impressed with us for some of the things we will do.”
He appealed to the House to expedite his approval as the next Finance Minister, to allow him to implement the programmes the Mahama administration has designed to reduce government expenditure.
GNA