GBC, GNA, ISD, National Security: See the public sector workers captured in the Presidency's budget

Thousands of public sector workers are now under the Office of the President’s budget, following the closure of some ministries and the reassignment of their staff under the presidency’s administrative structure.

The 2025 Budget, presented by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson on March 11, 2025, shows that the GH¢2.7 billion allocated to the presidency includes the salaries of workers from government agencies that were previously under now-defunct ministries.

In a Facebook video broadcast on March 14, 2025, the Minister for Government Communications, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, explained that the shift was a result of the government’s decision to reduce the number of ministries from 30 to 23, requiring the reassignment of staff to other government structures.

“These are not new hires, but civil servants whose agencies have been reassigned after their parent ministries were scrapped,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu said.

Which workers are now under the presidency’s budget?

According to the 2025 Budget, salaries for staff from several state institutions are now classified under the presidency’s expenditure. These include:

 • Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) – 1,115 employees

 • Information Services Department (ISD) – 1,309 employees

 • Ghana News Agency (GNA) – 133 employees
 • National Security Council and intelligence agencies, including the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), National Signals Bureau, and the Research Department

With the Ministry of Information and the National Security Ministry no longer in operation, their staff have been moved under the presidency’s budget for administrative purposes, according to Mr Kwakye Ofosu.

Speaking in Parliament on March 11, Dr Forson also confirmed that the salaries of these workers had to be accounted for following the ministry closures. He stated that their funding was now reflected under the Office of Government Machinery (OGM) in the budget.

Government says restructuring reduces operational costs

Mr Kwakye Ofosu stated in his broadcast that placing these salaries under the presidency’s budget does not increase overall government expenditure, as these workers were already part of the public payroll.

“By collapsing some ministries, the government is saving costs on ministerial salaries, vehicles, and operational expenses. The civil servants from those ministries remain, but their salaries now reflect under the presidency,” he explained.

Dr Forson, in his budget presentation, also said the restructuring was aimed at reducing the number of ministries while maintaining public services.

GH¢78 million for state media operations

Concerns have been raised about the GH¢78 million allocated under the presidency’s budget for state media organisations. Addressing the issue, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said the amount was not for government propaganda but for the operational costs of GBC, ISD, and GNA.

“These institutions provide public service information, and their operations are funded by the state. This is not a separate allocation for political activities,” he said.

Dr Forson’s budget statement confirmed that these state-owned media outlets had previously received funding under the now-defunct Ministry of Information, and their allocations were now reflected under the presidency’s budget.

Watch the video of the minister: