The Minority in Parliament has strongly criticized the Mahama-led government for its GHS2.7 billion budget allocation for the Office of Government Machinery (OGM) in 2025.
They highlighted the significant increase in expenditure compared to the previous administration’s budget.
“During the NPP era, the Office of Government Machinery had a budget for compensation of GHS326 million, and that included the development authorities, a national secretariat, and a couple of other agencies, MASLOC, SIGA, and the others,” Abena Osei Asare, Member of Parliament for Atiwa East stated.
She expressed concerns over the drastic rise in the budget allocation, noting that the current compensation under OGM is GHS2.7 billion.
Abena Asare emphasised that this increase is particularly concerning given that some agencies have been removed from the OGM’s purview.
“But here we are in 2025 when you look at the expenditure numbers, the compensation under OGM is GHS2.7 billion. From GHS326 million of a perceived overblown government to a lean government of GHS2.7 billion where they have also taken away some of these agencies,” she said.
Tano North MP Dr. Gideon Boako also strongly criticised President John Dramani Mahama for allocating GHS70 million to the research department and GHS79 million to government communications at the Jubilee House.
“President Mahama is allocating GHS50 million for goods and services for the research department and CAPEX GHS20 million. Office of government machinery—maybe a head and office assistants sitting in one office—GHS70 million,” he said.
Boako further pointed out the allocation for government communication, led by Felix Ofosu Kwakye and deputized by Shamima Muslim, noting that the budget for goods and services in this department alone stands at GHS8.8 million.
“Again, we have government communication headed by Felix Ofosu Kwakye, deputized by Shamima Muslim. Let’s say they have two or three research assistants helping them scroll through social media to see what is happening and respond—they are getting a goods and services budget of GHS8.8 million.
“Maybe they will use some to buy internet data to go online and respond to what the Minority is saying, and they are getting GHS70 million, making it GHS78.8 million,” Boako stated.
He argued that these allocations surpass the budgets of three or four ministries combined under the previous Akufo-Addo administration and contradict Mahama’s promise of a lean government.
“This is higher than about three or four ministries put together under President Akufo-Addo. This is not the lean government Ghanaians voted for,” Boako said.
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