All over the globe, the debate has been raging over the right size of governments that will be able to handle the challenges facing the people.
This issue has remained on the front burner in most developing countries whose governments have been trying to maintain the right balance between the resources of the country and the size of the government.
Former President J. A. Kufuor once said that looking at our circumstances, it would not be out of place to appoint a minister for each of the sectors of the economy. That was when he was confronted with his criticism of his predecessor, former President Jerry John Rawlings, for appointing too many ministers, whereas he (Kufuor) had appointed more ministers when he assumed office in 2001.
But big governments increase the bureaucracy and make the effective implementation of government policies and programmes difficult. It also costs the taxpayer a lot of money.
The debate on this issue has been rekindled by Professor George Ayittey, a retired Professor of Economics at the American University in Washington, DC, USA. He suggested at a forum organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) that the size of government be reduced drastically.
He observed that the size of government, which had grown so rapidly, was suffocating the economy.
But the question is: What is the ideal size of a government?
The size of governments in developed countries is quite small and sometimes not more than 20 ministers of state. It is, however, difficult to compare the situation in developing countries to that pertaining in advanced societies.
The developed countries have moved away from the challenges of development as faced by all the developing economies of the world. All the key sectors are in their primary state of development and any government that wants to change the status quo must keep an eye on all the concerns of the people.
Although it will be difficult for anybody to say exactly what the ideal size of government should be for us in Ghana, it is clear that the present bureaucracy in government has become unwieldy, costly and counter-productive.
At a time when we have challenges with the economy, the Daily Graphic thinks this is the most opportune time for a debate on this matter. As we do very often, we plead with all Ghanaians to stand up to be counted in this debate, so that at the end of the day the best option or model will be adopted in the country.
Regrettably, we have always sacrificed very good suggestions on the altar of partisan politics. What we do on such occasions is to look at the messenger instead of the message. If we disagree with the political colour of the messenger, we shoot down the message, even if it is in the best interest of the country.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, calls on all Ghanaians to bury their political differences and resolve to join the debate for the right size of government that will give us value for money, by being efficient and delivering to the expectation of all.
