President John Dramani Mahama has announced a reduction in the number of government Ministries from the current 30 to 23.
This decision, which is part of a broader strategy to improve the delivery of public services and reduce the cost of government operations, is contained in an Executive Instrument issued on January 9, 2025.
The announcement is in line with one of the key promises made by President Mahama during his election campaign, to reduce the number of ministries and ministers, and ensure a more focused and results-oriented administration.
President Mahama had pledged to govern with a reduced number of ministries and use only 60 ministers as a means of fostering better accountability, cost-efficiency, and streamlined decision-making processes.
The move comes as part of a broader agenda to reconfigure the country’s governance structures and improve the overall effectiveness of the public sector.
In the official Executive Instrument dated January 9, 2025, the President exercised his constitutional powers to implement this reduction under the provisions of section 11(3) of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (P.N.D.C.L. 327).
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.
