Presidency cuts political appointees by 124, but compensation bill jumps 148% and staff classifications raise questions

Fresh data from the Office of the President shows that President John Dramani Mahama significantly reduced the number of political appointees at the Jubilee House in 2025 compared to the last publicly available figures from the previous administration. However, despite the reduction in staffing levels, the Presidency's compensation bill is projected to more than double in 2026, raising questions about the true cost of running the Presidency.

According to the 2025 staffing report submitted to Parliament under Section 11 of the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463), President Mahama's administration had a total of 233 political appointees at the Presidency as of 2025.

The report indicates that the Office of the President comprised four Ministers of State, 39 Senior Presidential Staffers, and 190 junior political appointees.

The figures represent a significant decline from the last publicly available staffing data under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, which showed a total of 357 political appointees in 2023.

The 2023 report submitted by the Akufo-Addo administration listed one Minister of State, 43 Senior Presidential Staffers, and 313 junior political appointees.

Compared to the 233 appointees recorded in 2025, the current administration has reduced the number of political appointees by 124.

The reduction has been cited by government supporters as evidence of efforts to streamline the Presidency and reduce the size of government.

However, the absence of the 2024 staffing report has complicated efforts to assess the full extent of changes made during the transition from the Akufo-Addo administration to the Mahama administration.

Under the Presidential Office Act, annual staffing reports are required to be submitted to Parliament, but the 2024 report—which should have been available by March 2025—has not been publicly released.

As a result, there is currently no official public record detailing the number of presidential staffers who served during Akufo-Addo's final year in office.

While the overall number of political appointments has declined, analysts examining the 2025 staffing report have raised questions about the classification of some appointments.

A review of appointments announced by the Presidency suggests that several officials performing high-level advisory and executive functions may not have been classified as Senior Presidential Staffers despite holding responsibilities comparable to positions categorized as such under previous administrations.

Observers argue that if certain roles were classified differently, the actual reduction in senior-level political appointments may be smaller than the headline figures suggest.

The issue has fueled debate over whether changes in categorization could affect comparisons between the two administrations.

Perhaps the most striking revelation is the projected increase in compensation costs at the Office of the President.

Despite the reduction in political appointees, compensation expenditure is expected to rise dramatically from approximately GH¢100 million in 2025 to GH¢248 million in 2026.

The projected increase represents more than a 148 percent jump within a year and has prompted scrutiny from policy analysts and governance observers.

The sharp rise appears contradictory to the narrative of a leaner Presidency and has generated questions about the factors driving the increase.

Several explanations have been suggested for the projected increase in compensation expenditure.

One possibility is the implementation of revised Article 71 salary recommendations approved after the 2025 budget estimates were prepared.

Reports indicate that Members of Parliament and certain Article 71 office holders are expected to receive significantly higher remuneration under the revised salary structure.

Since Senior Presidential Staffers are generally compensated at levels comparable to ministers, and many junior political appointees are aligned with deputy minister salary scales, salary adjustments could substantially increase overall compensation costs even with fewer personnel.

Another possibility is that the number of staff may have increased since the end of 2025 and that these additional appointments are reflected in the 2026 compensation projections.

There is also speculation that part of the allocation could be intended to settle salary arrears, end-of-service benefits, or other compensation-related obligations owed to current or former presidential staff.

However, government officials have yet to provide a detailed breakdown explaining the projected increase.

Governance experts say the figures underscore the need for greater transparency regarding staffing levels, remuneration structures, and expenditure at the Presidency.

While the reduction in political appointees represents a notable departure from previous staffing levels, the increase in compensation costs suggests that staffing numbers alone may not provide a complete picture of government expenditure.

Analysts argue that a detailed explanation of how compensation allocations are calculated would help the public better understand whether the Presidency is achieving cost savings or whether other factors are driving expenditure upward.

The 2025 staffing report presents a complex picture of governance at the Presidency.

On one hand, the Mahama administration has reduced the number of political appointees by 124 compared to the latest publicly available figures from the previous administration.

On the other hand, compensation costs are projected to more than double within a year.

The contrast between declining staff numbers and rising expenditure highlights the challenges involved in evaluating the true cost of government operations.

As debates over public sector spending and government efficiency continue, the Presidency's staffing and compensation figures are likely to remain a key subject of public interest and parliamentary scrutiny in the months ahead.