Legal practitioner Prof. Kwaku Asare is calling on government to publicly quantify the projected cost savings from its recent decision to cancel fuel allowances for political appointees.
This follows a directive by President John Dramani Mahama to immediately stop the allocation and payment of fuel benefits to appointees as part of sweeping efforts to curb public spending.
In a statement issued on July 15 by Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the government emphasized that the move forms part of broader austerity measures. These include a reduction in ministerial appointments, a trimmed presidential staff list, and the discontinuation of non-essential expenses such as satellite TV subscriptions for state offices.
The President, according to the statement, believes that leaders must lead by example in the sacrifices being asked of citizens during tough economic times.
Reacting to the news, Prof. Asare, commenting under the Minister’s Facebook post, stated:
“This is very important. Quantify the expected savings from the cancellation.”
His call has sparked renewed debate on the need for transparency in government’s cost-cutting initiatives, with some civil society actors also demanding a breakdown of projected savings and how those funds will be redirected.
Mahama has done it again; cuts fuel allocation to gov’t appointees
