News:
May 22, 2026
Parliament will work aggressively to ensure Ghanaians are not denied jobs they are qualified for, Majority Leader Hon. Mahama Ayariga declared Thursday as he opened the second meeting of the Ninth Parliament’s second session.
“Jobs for which Ghanaians have the skills and competencies cannot be occupied by non-Ghanaians,” Ayariga told lawmakers, directing all committees overseeing economic sectors to hold ministers accountable on enforcing local content policies.
The Majority Leader acknowledged the scale of remaining challenges, including “a half decade accumulation of jobless youth, a recovering private sector and financial institutions, and a huge infrastructure deficit.”
But he struck an optimistic note about Ghana’s direction following the conclusion of the IMF bailout programme.
“The last one and a half years of economic management establishes the point that our economy does not lack,” Ayariga said. “Our economy has only suffered from decades of inefficiency, waste, graft and corruption.”
He announced that the government’s flagship “24 Hour Economy” initiative would be accelerated following the IMF exit to create promised jobs for young Ghanaians.
Parliamentary committees have been tasked with ensuring all factories operate at full capacity and that smuggling into the domestic market is ended. Security and revenue oversight committees received specific instructions to curtail smuggling and bring forward tax reform proposals.
The Majority Leader also vowed rigorous scrutiny of all appropriation proposals to prevent wasteful public spending. “Public funds must not get wasted in unscrupulous consumption but be invested in the productive sectors to create jobs and wealth for our unemployed youth.”
Finance Minister is scheduled to make a statement on recent economic developments later Thursday, setting the stage for debate on the country’s economic governance future.
The meeting’s agenda includes 48 bills, among them the Cyber Security Authority and Data Protection Bills, 26 instruments, statements, motions, and papers. Committees will also conduct site visits across the country to assess the work of ministries, departments, and agencies.
“This is a Working Government,” Ayariga said, promising a busy and productive session “in service to the people and the nation as a whole.”
Ghanamps.com