President John Dramani Mahama
The Jubilee House has prohibited the usage of DSTV and other satellite television subscriptions, and President John Mahama has plans to expand the regulation to include other government agencies.
According to the administration, the action is a part of a larger cost-cutting plan to cut back on unnecessary public spending and show government humility.
Felix Ofosu Kwakye, the Minister of State for Government Communications, revealed in an interview with JoyNews that no office at the president is now permitted to have a pay-TV subscription.
“I can reveal to you that if you come to this house, there’s no office in this house that is allowed to subscribe to DSTV or any satellite television,” he said.
“You would say that that is a trivial matter, but he has done that. Because when you computed the cost, it was significant money,” myjoyonline.com quotes him as saying.
The decision will soon be implemented in all governmental institutions, Mr. Ofosu Kwakye continued, adding that it is currently being implemented at the presidency.
“You can turn on the television that you see here, you will find that I’m only limited to local television stations. It is something that will be extended to all government agencies to ensure that we don’t waste the taxpayers’ money.”
He stated that the administration is working to improve the efficiency and transparency of governance and would shortly announce additional cost-cutting initiatives.
“This is a man deeply committed to making savings for the Ghanaian people. Governance necessarily involves taking tough decisions… but the citizenry must see corresponding levels of modesty on the part of government officials—and that’s what President Mahama is committed to doing,” he said.
KA