President Mahama scraps 7 ministries in Ghana to save costs

Ghanaian President, John Mahama, has announced the reduction of ministries from 30 to 23, following the dissolution of seven ministries.

This step is part of a comprehensive plan to streamline government operations and adhere to the fiscal discipline required under the terms of the $3 billion bailout secured from the International Monetary Fund, IMF.

In his official statement, President Mahama highlighted the primary goal of the restructuring, which is to cut costs and enhance the efficiency of government operations.

“The new government structure reflects our commitment to prudent economic management,” the president noted.

“By streamlining the number of ministries, we aim to save costs and ensure a more focused and effective governance framework.”

This development underscores the government’s resolve to address Ghana’s ongoing economic difficulties, such as rising inflation, increasing unemployment, and unsustainable debt levels.

The $3 billion bailout, secured in 2022, was designed to stabilize Ghana’s economy and address its fiscal challenges. The conditions tied to this financial assistance emphasized the need for fiscal responsibility and effective governance, which have been key priorities of the Mahama administration.

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After his decisive victory in the December 7 elections, President Mahama is under growing public pressure to fulfill his campaign pledges of economic recovery and better living standards.

“We understand the sacrifices Ghanaians are making,” Mahama remarked.

“Our administration is fully committed to restoring economic stability and improving the lives of our people. This restructuring is just one step in our broader plan to achieve these goals.”

Despite being Africa’s second-largest cocoa producer, Ghana continues to face significant economic challenges, including a youth unemployment crisis, high living costs, and crippling public debt, all of which have caused dissatisfaction among its citizens.

The government anticipates that the cost savings from reducing the number of ministries will allow for greater investments in key areas such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

This restructuring, which reduces the number of ministries from 30 to 23, aligns with the IMF’s focus on fiscal discipline and cost reduction. It also aims to channel savings into critical sectors to drive economic recovery and improve citizens’ quality of life.

During President Mahama’s inauguration on January 7 in Accra, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s steadfast support for Ghana’s leadership under Mahama.

President Mahama scraps 7 ministries in Ghana to save costs

Deby’s party secures majority in Chad election amid boycott

Chad’s ruling party won two-thirds of the seats in the legislative election which was boycotted by many in the opposition last month, provisional results showed on Sunday, reinforcing President Mahamat Idriss Deby’s hold on power.

Results of the Dec. 29 election seal the oil-producing Central African nation’s transition to constitutional rule more than three years after Deby seized control following the sudden death of his father and long-standing predecessor Idriss Deby Itno.

The initiative, launched in December, explicitly aimed to make funds looted by the rapid support forces worthless.

Deby’s party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement, secured 124 of the 188 seats at the National Assembly, the national electoral body said. The participation rate was put at 51.56%.
The vote, which also included municipal and regional elections, was Chad’s first in more than a decade.

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But opposition leader Succes Masra’s Transformateurs party and several others boycotted the election, saying the vote was skewed and lacked transparency. The government has denied this.

Deby was elected president in another disputed vote in May, three years after declaring himself interim leader when rebels killed his father on the battlefield.

Since Deby’s election, Chad – a key Western ally in the fight against Islamic militants in the Sahel region – ended its defence cooperation pact with France and threatened to withdraw from a regional multinational security force.

The severing of military ties with France echoes moves by Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, which all kicked out French troops and fostered closer ties with Russia after a string of coups in West and Central Africa’s Sahel region.

This week, security forces foiled an attack on the presidency that the government referred to as a “destabilisation attempt”.

Deby’s party secures majority in Chad election amid boycott

19 killed in attempted assault on Chad’s presidential complex

Gunmen attempted to storm the presidential complex in Chad’s capital N’Djamena on Wednesday, sparking a battle that left 18 attackers and one security personnel member dead, the government said.

AFP reporters heard gunfire near the site and saw tanks on the street, while security sources reported that armed men had tried to overrun the complex.

The government later said 19 people were killed in the fighting, of which 18 were members of the 24-strong commando unit that launched the assault.