Samoa's government departments and ministries have been slashed to almost half of their former number as part of public sector reforms in the country.
Government bodies have been reduced from 27 to 14 mainly through mergers.
The Secretary of the Public Service Commission, Faamausili Dr Moli says the merging process was the result of a review by the commission's Institutional Strengthening project.
Also as part of the reform, the new department heads have been renamed chief executive officers.
Faamausili says the new CEOs were selected on the basis of their leadership and management skills as well as their ability to think strategically.
The opposition says it was the reigning Human Rights Protection Party that in previous administrations increased government departments.
