President John Dramani Mahama has, with immediate effect, cancelled the payment and allocation of fuel allowances to all political appointees as part of his administration’s ongoing efforts to reduce public expenditure.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, July 15, in an official statement from the presidency signed by the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
According to the release, the directive is aimed at curbing government spending and redirecting funds into key priority sectors.
“The President believes that leadership must also bear its part of the sacrifices it is calling on the people to make,” the statement noted, highlighting the administration’s commitment to leading by example in the face of current economic pressures.
This move is the latest in a series of austerity measures introduced by the Mahama government.
Recent steps include a significant reduction in the size of government through fewer ministerial and presidential staff appointments, and the cancellation of satellite TV subscriptions for offices at the Presidency and other state institutions.
This decision comes barely 24-hours before the implementation of the GHS1.00 levy expected to be charged on every litre of fuel purchased at the pump.
The government has explained that the primary aim of the levy is to provide the Ministry of Energy with sufficient funds to produce fuel for power generation.