President John Dramani Mahama has announced a reduction in the number of 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, was revealed 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, where he committed to reducing the number of ministries and ensuring a more focused and results-oriented administration.
Mahama had previously pledged to govern with a reduced number of ministries, aiming to limit the government’s size to just 60 ministries 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).
An official Executive Instrument issued regarding the reduction in the number of ministries
Some ministries have therefore been merged with others.
On the other hand, some ministries have also been revoked. These include; Ministry of Information, Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Railway Development, Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, Ministry of Public Enterprises, and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (which has been added to the Local Government).
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.
