Information Minister, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has rejected claims that the 998 presidential staffers will drain the public purse.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo presented the list to parliament last week in compliance with Section 11 of the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463), which requires him to submit annually to parliament, a report on the staffing position of the Office of the President.

According to Dr Abdul-Hamid, although the current government’s list is taller than ex-president Mahama’s, the Akufo-Addo government is spending half the amount used in paying Mr Mahama’s staff.

“Our list, for example, is a little above the President Mahama list but if you look at the budget for office machinery under President Mahama, it is way above our budget,” he told Accra-based Joy FM ON Monday, 23 April, adding: “For 2017, they had about GHS3 billion but we came in 2017 with about GHS1.5 billion”.

Meanhwhile, the 2016 Campaign Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Peter Mac Manu, has denied claims that all 998 staffers were appointed by President Akufo-Ado.

According to him, Mr Akufo-Addo appointed a little over 200 staffers in addition to the 798 bequeathed to him by Mr Mahama.

“The impression being created by opponents of the NPP-led government that Mr Akufo-Addo has appointed 998 staffers is and should be disregarded”, he added.

Speaking on Ghana Yensom hosted by Chief Jerry Forson on Accra 100.5FM on Monday, 23 April, Mr Mac Manu, who is also a former National Chair of the NPP, said the critics are only seeking to discredit the government for no reason.

“Akufo-Addo inherited 798 from former President John Mahama and employed a little above 200 but it is all over the place that Akufo-Addo employed 998 at the Jubilee House, that is fake news; that is misinformation.

“People are spreading fake news to discredit our government and as a party we have the duty to explain to the public.

“Nana Addo hasn’t employed 998 staffers, that information out there that he has employed 998 staffers is not true.”