Abu Jinapor: Mahama’s ‘Small Government’ Is Bigger Than Ever, Adding Financial Burden
Jinapor raises concerns over the increased cost of governance due to unapproved appointments, undermining the supposed aim of a more efficient government.

- Jinapor criticizes the government for making secret appointments
- He argues that these additional roles will cost taxpayers more
- Many of these appointments bypass necessary Parliamentary oversight
The MP for Damango and former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, has criticized the current government led by President John Dramani Mahama, claiming that its size is far greater than initially promised.
Jinapor explained that President Mahama had committed to a total of sixty ministers and deputies. However, he argued that the government has grown beyond that by appointing numerous individuals in positions such as Senior Presidential Advisors, Presidential Advisors, and Presidential Staffers—roles which contribute to a larger and more expensive government.
He pointed out that the original intention of reducing government size to cut costs would instead lead to an even heavier financial burden on taxpayers. According to Jinapor, these additional appointments are not only unaccounted for but also bypass necessary Parliamentary scrutiny, further compounding the financial strain on the country.
This critique comes in response to a statement by the MP for Tamale South and Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, who had praised the government’s decision to reduce the number of ministers and deputies to lower costs.
Jinapor’s remarks highlight the disparity between the promised “small government” and the reality of an expanding administration.