Presidential staffers reducing by 69 in 2019- Oppong Nkrumah

Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has dismissed claims by National Democratic Congress MPs that government has increased the number of presidential staffers from 998 to 1,614 in the 2019 budget.

In 2017, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in line with the constitution and the Presidential Office Act 1993, forwarded a list of 998 staffers and ministers of state at the Office of the Presidency (OOP) [Jubilee House] to Parliament.

The list included ministers of state at the presidency, persons working directly at the office of the president, senior presidential advisers, presidential staffers, and presidential aides and employees of other Public Services assigned to the Office of the President

Addressing the media, Oppong Nkrumah said the Minority and the peddlers of the allegation of an increase in the numbers were rather confusing the Office of Government Machinery (OGM) with that of the Office of the President (OOP).

“Specifically, Office of the President for the avoidance of doubt is expected to reduce by 69 by end of 2019,” he said, explaining that the the 998 list will reduce to 929.

He continued: “So contrary to the claim of an increase in numbers, there is rather a reduction in numbers by 69 specifically at Office of the President and netreduction of 83 in all at the entire Office of Government Machinery,” he said.

"Last week in Parliament and subsequently on several media platforms, the members of the Minority claimed that the government was planning to increase the number of staff at the Office of the President from 998 - 1614. They even further calculated and said an increase of 616 staffers."

"After several requests for them to offer proof to back this claim, they referred to the 2019 budget as the source of their claim and proceeded further to claim any such act will amount to a burden on the public purse."

The former host of the Joy FM Super Morning Show explained the difference between Office of Government Machinery (OGM) and Office of the President "OOP."

Explaining, he said: "The Executive arm of government is organized into Ministries Departments and Agencies. The supervising outfit of the executive arm is referred to as Office of Government Machinery. It comprises 19 difference units one of which is the Office of the President.

In 2018 established posts for OGM was 1697In 2019 it has rather been reduced to 1614(insert extracts from budget statement)

So Indeed the established Posts at OGM has reduced between 2018 and 2019. It has reduced not increased.

The claim of an increase is because the minority is comparing Office of the President(998 in 2018) which was part of the 1697 ceiling, with the entire Office of Government Machinery ceiling for 2019 (1614).

This type of analysis can only be done under 1 of two circumstances

- If the maker confuses OGM & OOP. The two are different. - If the maker is being deliberately mischievous.

He entreated the media to subject people who make "claims about facts, to first substantiate them, before giving them media mileage to repeatedly peddle such unsubstantiated claims."