1,048 staff at the Presidency under Akufo-Addo unprecedented – Ablakwa

North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has insisted that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has over 1,048 staff at Ghana’s Presidency.

This number includes 361 political appointees, he added.

“My thoughts on Prez Akufo-Addo’s unprecedented 1,048 staff at Ghana’s Presidency, including an incredible 361 political appointees, and how the treacherous conduct of a few MPs appear to have emboldened the President on his path of perdition despite the current economic meltdown,” he tweeted after Akufo-Addosubmitted to Parliament the annual report on the staffing position of the Office of the President for the period 1st January to 31st December 2022.

The President’s action was Pursuant to section 11 of the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463).

The report covers three key areas, namely the number of Presidential Staff employed at the Office of the President during the period, the ranks and grades of these staff, and employees of other Public Services assigned to the Office of the President.

A statement issued by the Presidency on Thursday, March 30 said out of the 361 persons who are political appointees at the Office of the President, only 163 work physically at the Jubilee House.

The others work in the offices to which they have been assigned.

“It is also instructive to note that, in keeping with the established practice of previous governments of the 4th Republic, the 315 other political appointees include Special Assistants, Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants to Ministers of State and Regional Ministers, employees in the Office of the Vice President, Aides and Assistants assigned to the First Lady and Second Lady, as well as employees assigned to Government agencies under the Office of the President, such as NEIP, Free SHS Secretariat, MASLOC, Special Development Initiatives Secretariat, Monitoring and Evaluation Secretariat, Zongo and Inner Cities Development Secretariat, amongst others,” the statement said.

It added that “Moreover, in addition to the political appointees at the Office of the President, employees of Public Sector Organizations assigned to the Office were also
included. These categories of staff were from different classes, including Administrative, Executive/Clerical, Records, Secretarial, Budget, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Presidential Household, and staff from the Department of Parks and Gardens, Ghana Health Service, Controller and Accountant General’s Department, Ghana Audit Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Public Works Department (Prestige), and Ghana Postal Company.

“The total number of these categories of staff was six hundred and eighty-seven (687). These categories of staff were appointed by their respective public institutions, and the Civil Service and have always been assigned to the Office of the President during previous
governments.

“The submission of this report is a clear indication of the President’s commitment to transparency and accountability. It provides a comprehensive overview of the staffing position of the Office of the President, and it is expected to inform decision-making processes.”

source: 3news