The Presidency has recorded a significant reduction in the number of political appointees under President John Dramani Mahama, but a sharp projected increase in compensation spending for 2026 is raising fresh questions about the overall cost of running the government.
According to the Office of the President’s 2025 staffing report submitted to Parliament, the Presidency had 233 political appointees, comprising four Ministers of State, 39 Senior Presidential Staffers and 190 junior political appointees.
The figure represents a reduction of 124 political appointees compared to the 357 recorded in the last publicly available staffing report from the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2023.
Overall staffing at the Presidency also declined. The report indicates that total personnel, including political appointees, civil servants and public servants on attachment, stood at 808 in 2025, down from 921 in 2023.
Despite the reduction in staff numbers, budget projections show compensation costs at the Office of the President rising substantially. Compensation expenditure, which stood at GH¢100 million in 2025, is projected to increase to GH¢248 million in 2026 — a jump of approximately 148 percent.
The development has sparked debate over whether a smaller Presidency necessarily translates into lower operating costs.
Analysts reviewing the staffing report have also pointed to questions surrounding the classification of certain appointments. Several officials serving as presidential advisers, directors and policy coordinators appear to hold responsibilities similar to positions that were classified as Senior Presidential Staffers under the previous administration.
Some observers argue that if these positions were categorised using the same criteria applied in earlier reports, the number of senior-level appointees could be higher than the officially reported figure.
The Presidency’s staffing report comes against the backdrop of longstanding public debate over the size and cost of government. While in opposition, the National Democratic Congress frequently criticised the scale of appointments under the previous administration, arguing that a large Presidency imposed significant costs on taxpayers.
The latest figures suggest that while staffing levels have declined, the financial implications of running the Presidency remain a subject of scrutiny.
Possible explanations for the projected increase in compensation include adjustments arising from revised Article 71 salary structures, changes in staffing composition after 2025, or provisions for outstanding salary-related obligations. However, no official breakdown has yet been provided to explain the projected increase.
The report therefore presents a mixed picture: fewer political appointees and overall staff, but significantly higher compensation projections for the coming year. Whether the increase reflects salary adjustments, staffing changes or other factors is likely to remain a focus of public and parliamentary interest in the months ahead.
