President John Dramani Mahama has announced a reduction in the number of government ministries from 30 to 23, as part of his strategy to enhance public service delivery and reduce government expenditure.
This decision, outlined in an Executive Instrument issued on January 9, 2025, aligns with a key promise from Mahama’s election campaign. He had committed to streamlining the administration by reducing the number of ministries to ensure greater focus and efficiency.
Previously, Mahama had pledged to maintain a government structure with no more than 60 ministries to promote better accountability, cost-efficiency, and streamlined decision-making.
The reduction is part of broader reforms aimed at reconfiguring the country’s governance system to improve the effectiveness of the public sector. The Executive Instrument, dated January 9, 2025, was issued in accordance with Section 11(3) of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (P.N.D.C.L. 327), under the President’s constitutional powers.
Some ministries have therefore been merged with others.
The Civil Service Act empowers the President to make adjustments to the structure of government ministries and agencies, as deemed necessary, to improve the efficiency of the civil service.
