The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over the Mahama-led government’s allocation of GHS2.7 billion to the Office of Government Machinery (OGM) in the 2025 budget, criticizing it as an excessive increase in expenditure.

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They compared this figure to the previous administration’s budget, highlighting the significant rise.

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“During the NPP era, the Office of Government Machinery had a budget for compensation of GHS326 million, and that included the development authorities, a national secretariat, and a couple of other agencies, MASLOC, SIGA, and the others,” Abena Osei Asare, Member of Parliament for Atiwa East stated.

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MP for Atiwa East, Abena Osei Asare, pointed out that under the NPP government, the compensation budget for OGM was GHS326 million.

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She noted that this amount covered several agencies, including the development authorities, a national secretariat, MASLOC, and SIGA.

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She questioned why the budget had escalated to GHS2.7 billion, especially when some agencies had been removed from OGM’s oversight.

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“But here we are in 2025 when you look at the expenditure numbers, the compensation under OGM is GHS2.7 billion. From GHS326 million of a perceived overblown government to a lean government of GHS2.7 billion where they have also taken away some of these agencies,” she said.

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Tano North MP, Dr. Gideon Boako, has strongly opposed President John Dramani Mahama’s allocation of GHS70 million to the research department and GHS79 million to government communications at the Jubilee House, calling it unjustifiable.

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“President Mahama is allocating GHS50 million for goods and services for the research department and CAPEX GHS20 million. Office of government machinery—maybe a head and office assistants sitting in one office—GHS70 million,” he said.

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Boako highlighted the allocation for government communication, led by Felix Ofosu Kwakye with Shamima Muslim as deputy, emphasizing that GHS8.8 million has been designated specifically for goods and services in this department.

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“Again, we have government communication headed by Felix Ofosu Kwakye, deputized by Shamima Muslim. Let’s say they have two or three research assistants helping them scroll through social media to see what is happening and respond—they are getting a goods and services budget of GHS8.8 million.

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“Maybe they will use some to buy internet data to go online and respond to what the Minority is saying, and they are getting GHS70 million, making it GHS78.8 million,” Boako stated.

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He pointed out that these allocations are greater than the combined budgets of three or four ministries during the Akufo-Addo administration, directly contradicting Mahama’s commitment to a lean government.

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“This is higher than about three or four ministries put together under President Akufo-Addo. This is not the lean government Ghanaians voted for,” Boako said.

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