Els: MBN360 News
The Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of Government Communications, Honourable Felix Kwakye Ofosu has clarified that compensation figures captured in recent budget estimates do not signify an increase in salaries for political appointees. He explained that outstanding arrears owed to former appointees account for a significant portion of the allocations under the Office of the President.
Discussing the compensation structure at the Presidency, Honourable Kwakye stated that many public interpretations of the figures fail to account for payments relating to previous office holders. He noted that a proper assessment requires consideration of arrears, top up payments and ex gratia obligations that remain outstanding.
The Minister of Government Communications disclosed that more than GH¢700 million has already been paid in back pay and ex gratia to former Members of Parliament and former ministers from both sides of the House. He added that the remaining obligations relate largely to political appointees who served under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.
Pointing to the figures contained in the budget, The Presidential Spokesperson indicated that GH¢156 million has been earmarked for salary arrears owed to former political appointees. He explained that the Ministry of Finance is preparing to settle those payments following the completion of the necessary computations.
“Anybody who picks the budget and says that the figures have gone up is not being fair to the facts. They probably do not know about these particulars.”Honourable Felix Kwakye Ofosu
In light of this, Honourable Kwakye stressed that the compensation structure inherited by the current administration remains unchanged. He stated that officials serving at the Presidency currently receive salaries based on the same approved framework that existed before the change in government.
The Minister of Government Communications further explained that former ministers who were not Members of Parliament were paid through the Office of the President. Meanwhile, ministers who served as Members of Parliament received their salaries through Parliament.
Additionally, he argued that once the arrears component is separated from the overall budget estimate, the amount being spent on current presidential staff falls considerably. He noted that calculations indicate spending on current personnel remains close to levels recorded previously.
“Between last year and this year, the salaries have remained the same. The figures show that clearly when the arrears are taken out.”Honourable Felix Kwakye Ofosu
Discussing staff numbers, Honourable Kwakye revealed that the current administration has 233 political appointees compared with 361 political appointees under President Akufo Addo in 2022. He added that reductions in personnel naturally affect the overall cost of administration.
Moreover, The Presidential Spokesperson highlighted that government expenditure extends beyond salaries alone. He explained that accommodation, rent allowances, official vehicles and other conditions of service also contribute to the total cost of governance.
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From his perspective, a fair assessment of compensation must consider all these factors together. He therefore urged analysts to examine the full context before drawing conclusions from headline budget figures.
Transferred Agencies Account For Higher Government Machinery Budget
The Presidential Spokesperson provided further clarification on expenditure under the Office of Government Machinery, stating that staffing arrangements following the restructuring of ministries significantly influenced budgetary allocations. He explained that thousands of public sector workers were temporarily reassigned for administrative and accounting purposes.
Addressing comparisons between current and previous budgets, Honourable Kwakye said claims that compensation under the Office of Government Machinery had ballooned overlooked important institutional changes. He noted that the abolition of certain ministries required employees and agencies to be placed under alternative administrative structures.
Discussing the former Ministry of Information, The Minister of Government Communications explained that agencies such as the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and the Information Services Department were reassigned after the ministry was dissolved. He indicated that those institutions alone account for close to 3,000 civil servants.
Similarly, he pointed to the restructuring of the former Ministry of National Security. The Presidential Spokesperson explained that agencies including the National Security Secretariat, National Signals Bureau, Bureau of National Investigations and the Research Department were affected by the changes.
According to Honourable Kwakye, the combined workforce of those institutions exceeds 6,000 employees spread across the country. Consequently, the salaries of nearly 10,000 public servants were temporarily captured under the Office of Government Machinery.
“Close to 10,000 civil servants were temporarily placed under the Office of Government Machinery pending decisions on their permanent administrative homes.”Honourable Felix Kwakye Ofosu
Against this backdrop, he argued that direct comparisons between current and previous compensation figures can produce misleading conclusions. He stated that many of the employees included in those allocations are career public servants whose salaries would have been paid regardless of where they were administratively assigned.
Additionally, The Minister of Government Communications outlined the structure of the Office of the President. He explained that the institution comprises the Office of the Chief of Staff, the Office of the Vice President, the Communications Bureau, the Monitoring Unit and several other administrative departments.
Moreover, Honourable Kwakye noted that a number of statutory bodies also operate under the Office of Government Machinery. He mentioned the National Development Planning Commission and the Ghana AIDS Commission among agencies whose budgets are captured within the broader framework.
Correspondingly, he explained that several officers from the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Police Service and other public institutions are seconded to the Presidency to perform specialised duties. These officers, he added, remain public servants whose salaries are already provided for within existing government structures.
The Presidential Spokesperson reiterated that understanding the composition of the Office of Government Machinery is essential when analysing expenditure figures. He stated that staffing transfers, agency restructuring and administrative reassignments provide important context for evaluating government spending patterns.
