Office of the President Reports 808 Staff Members as State Agencies Face Strict Transparency Deadlines

The Office of the President has officially submitted its 2025 annual staffing report to Parliament, revealing a total workforce of 808 personnel as of December 31, 2025. In compliance with the Presidential Office Act of 1993 (Act 463), the report provides a detailed breakdown: 233 political appointees—including four Ministers of State and 39 presidential staffers—and 575 civil and public service employees. This disclosure, which has historically sparked public debate regarding the size of the executive branch, aims to uphold statutory requirements for transparency and accountability in the management of the Presidency. Parallel to this disclosure, the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) has issued a final warning to state institutions failing to adhere to transparency mandates under the Public Procurement Act. Following an assessment of the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS), the PPA identified several entities that have neglected to publish procurement plans and contract award details. Heads of these institutions face potential administrative sanctions and public identification for these lapses. Simultaneously, the push for financial accountability has extended to the lottery sector, where a private citizen has invoked the Right to Information (RTI) Act to demand extensive financial records from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and National Lottery Authority (NLA) regarding various operators from 2012 to 2025. Concerns over the fair distribution of state resources have also surfaced at the local government level. In the Ketu South Municipality, former Assembly Member Victor Ayaku raised alarms regarding the GH¢245 million "Nkoko Nkitinkiti" poultry initiative. Ayaku alleged a lack of transparency in registration processes, warning that political favoritism could exclude eligible residents and undermine public trust. Meanwhile, the Minister for Local Government, Ahmed Ibrahim, has reaffirmed the government's commitment to sanitation in Greater Accra, acknowledging the need to resolve payment delays for waste management providers to ensure sustainable environmental health across the capital. The broader governance landscape faces further scrutiny from civil society and economic experts regarding institutional integrity and policy implementation. Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh of CDD-Ghana recently cautioned against the proliferation of privately organized excellence awards for ministers, arguing they promote individual branding over collective cabinet responsibility and could interfere with presidential authority. On the economic front, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) informed Parliament that the successful rollout of the proposed 24-Hour Economy requires robust, reliable data, noting significant staffing shortages within the service. Additionally, political tension remains high over fiscal management, as former Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam challenged the Bank of Ghana’s denials regarding a "sell-and-leaseback" proposal for its new $260 million headquarters, calling for a more transparent recapitalization plan for the central bank.