Alan Kyerematen calls for more leaner government

Former Ghanaian Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen has advocated for a leaner government to propel economic growth. At a lecture titled “Transformation of the Ghanaian Economy: From Stability to Prosperity,” he proposed reducing the number of ministries and consolidating government agencies. Kyerematen argued that the expansive public sector diverts resources from business and job creation. He suggested eliminating unnecessary public sector jobs and services to curb government spending.

To incentivize public servants to transition to the private sector, Kyerematen proposed "golden handshakes." These benefits would allow government employees to leave and pursue entrepreneurial ventures, provided they receive appropriate financial support. He emphasized that public servants often lack the flexibility to innovate outside the public system, which stifles economic development.

Kyerematen also pushed for a robust privatization drive among state-owned enterprises. He believed that allowing private entities greater involvement in these sectors would foster competition, efficiency, and job creation. He stressed that economic transformation in Ghana is hindered by the excessive allocation of public resources to maintaining the public sector.