Author: Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Minister of Finance Cassiel Ato Forson has assured that despite the troubling state of the Ghanaian Economy, they are poised to fix it and return the country to the path of sustainable growth.

“Mr. Speaker, it is what it is. The state of our economy is troubling, but we will fix it! It will require some

sacrifices, truthfulness, transparency and discipline. We will take strong measures to confront the situation head-on.

Presenting the 2025 Budget and Fiscal Policy of Government in parliament, he noted that the sacrifice of achieving this must come from all stakeholders, beginning with the government, adding that it is the reason the president, appreciating this significantly downsized  his government from “the elephant 88 to 60 ministers as well as government ministries from 30 to 23.

“our vision is to build a prosperous and a democratic state anchored on the principles of freedom and justice, providing equal opportunities for all. Through this vision, we will work together to build the Ghana we all want”.

The Finance Minister, thus announced that the resetting agenda will be anchored on three pillars:

i- restoring hope in our democracy, renewing

trust in public officials, and helping every

Ghanaian attain their full potential;

ii- offering a trusted hand to the vulnerable,

particularly women and youth and creating a

new Ghana for coming generations; and

iii- stimulating demand by patronising made-in-

Ghana goods under the 24-hour Economy

Policy.

Ghanamps.com

Techiman South Member of Parliament Martin Adjei-Menah Korsah has petitioned Parliament over security concerns involving President Mahama’s use of a private aircraft and his brother driving him on official duty that could compromise the president’s security and safety.

In his petition, Korsah highlighted two key incidents that he argued demonstrate a disregard for established security protocols surrounding the President’s movements.

The MP’s petition points out that President Mahama has, on multiple occasions, opted to travel using a private aircraft owned by his brother, Ibrahim Mahama, rather than the state-owned presidential jet that is specifically maintained and reserved for his use.

He argued that this decision raises serious security and safety concerns, as the private aircraft may not have undergone the same rigorous safety assessments, security clearances, and operational checks that the state aircraft routinely undergoes.

“The President has on record, undertaken foreign travels using his brother’s private aircraft at a time when the state-owned aircraft was available. The safety condition of the private aircraft could not be vouched for by state security agencies,” the petition states.

Korsah further insisted that allowing the President to rely on a privately owned jet without official authorization poses a significant national security risk and sets a dangerous precedent for future administrations.

The petition also raised alarms over a more recent event that took place last Thursday, March 6, 2025, during President Mahama’s visit to the Volta Region to commiserate with victims of a sea erosion disaster.

During the visit, the President was seen being driven by his brother, Ibrahim Mahama, instead of his officially assigned state driver.

Ghanamps.com

At a recent orientation organized in Ho, the Volta Regional capital, Members of Parliament from the Majority side pledged to be punctual on the floor of the House to end the Minority’s recent practice of raising the issue of quorum which usually leads to early adjournments.

According to the Member of Parliament for the Akan constituency Yao Gomado, he agrees with leadership of the Majority to apply strict measures of reporting lawmakers who consistently absent themselves form the floor of the House even if it would lead to, they not being re-elected or losing their seats.

He noted that the Minority’s action of always raising the issue of quorum has been to achieve political points and it behoves on them (Majority) to improve attendance.

“Your constituents cannot elect you to parliament and you come and be doing your private business; the chief whip has told us if the need be for them to blackmail us, they would do that”, he said in an interview.

On whether the repercussion of reporting absenting MPs to their constituents would not lead to such MPs losing their seats in the next election; he responded, “Who cares? They brought you in to do business; if you are not ready to represent them then why did you come?”

And further added that, he is a marine engineer before coming to Parliament, the weekend of the orientation at Ho he was supposed to be in Togo for a very important business, but he showed up for the orientation.

He further pointed out that at the end of a meeting when the House is on recess, he has to go back and tell his constituents what has gone on at the floor of the House; “my constituents demand that I brief them. We’re one hundred and eight four and we having four independent joining us making it188; and you do not show up in Parliament, they should do the right thing”, he emphasized.

Mr. Gomado further added that he has friends in the Minority and most of the MPs he communicated with from the Minority were not happy that they were not part of the orientation in Ho and their leadership was citing cost.

“Yes cost, but I can tell you if the orientation was held at Parliament you would not have full participation of MPs; most of them would have given excuses and not participate. But in Ho you saw the full participation, the Hall was full”.

I am a second time MP but in every profession you need to upgrade yourself and it has been very useful, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, Godwin Animli Dorgbadzi-Dorani believes the ordeals of Members of Parliament (MPs) particularly first-timers who usually resides far away in reaching parliament early can be avoided with the establishment of a parliamentary village.

He said MPs who stay far away from Parliament especially those from other Regions apart from Greater Accra have a tough task trying to adjust to the traffic situation in the capital in order to be early in the House to start the days business.

According to him, he would be the first to push for the establishment of a parliamentary village that is a bit close to Parliament House to accommodate MPs to aid the process of parliamentary activities.

“I am being very honest with you, most of us go through hell before getting to Parliament; I am from the Ashanti Region, I wish I can just walk without driving to Parliament, but I don’t have it that way and it’s a bit cumbersome”, he said in an interview.

Again, he stated that every weekend he drives to the Ashanti Region and get back to Accra on Monday since as an MP you also have your constituency to take care of.

Meanwhile, the Adansi/Asokwa MP further pointed out that in his view the afternoon sittings of the House advocated by the Rt.Hon. Speaker Alban Bagbin is the way to address the quorum conundrum which is rampant in recent times, “so that early in the morning we can attend to other businesses of constituents”.

“You need to attend to the needs of your constituents so that, they do not have the feeling that after voting for you, you are not getting time for them and you are not interested in things to do with them”, he emphasised.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The independent Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North, Worlase Kpeli, has described the decision to align with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Majority in Parliament as apt and satisfactory.

According to him it’s been good so far as the collaboration has not posed any problem to him. “I feel at home, we are growing together and sharing ideas together; opportunities are being given equally”.

In an interview with Ghanamps.com, he noted that he has not seen any discrimination between the regular NDC MPs and himself; “the leadership system is working and courtesies extended to the NDC MPs are also extended to me as well”.

He noted that the ninth parliament has just started, and it has only been two months “and within three months, we will be able to assess very well our collaboration”.

Touching on the president’s appointments as none of the independent MPs have been appointed, he noted that being a Minister or deputy Minister is the prerogative of the President, and “if he finds it fit so be it; we do not have any rules governing it. I am not looking into that but if it comes fine, if not, I am still an MP performing my duties”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The New Patriotic Party Minority in parliament has insisted the Akufo-Addo government had done considerably well with the Ghana Priority Health Infrastructure Project (Agenda 111) completing three (3) District Hospitals.

The three, they said achieved practical completion, equipped and commissioned on the 5th December, 2024.

These include Atwima Kwanwoma Municipal Hospital at Trede, Oforikrom Municipal Hospital at Kokoben, and Ahanta West Municipal Hospital at Bokro.
This is contrary to President John Mahama’s verdict when he delivered the State of the Nation Address of only one being completed.

The Minority presenting what they termed ‘The True State of the Nation Address’ at a press conference in Parliament on Monday, March 3, 2025 disclosed that as at 31st December 2024, progress on the completion of civil works were – 37 sites achieved 70% completion and above, 28 sites achieved between 50% and 70% completion, and 36 sites have achieved below 50%completion.

They also refuted the fact that there was no dedicated fund for the Agenda 111 project.

“We also had dedicated sources of funding these projects from direct Government of Ghana (GOG) budgetary allocation and the Annual Budget Funding Amount Capex from oil revenues.

Dr. Amin Adams  who addressed the media on behalf of the Minority also stated that the Amount needed for the completion of all the District Hospitals and the Zonal Psychiatric Hospitals as at 31st December 2024 was US$1.3billion.

They accused the President of misinforming the public stating, “In his haste to misinform the Ghanaian people, the President told a group of clergy men
who visited him in his office that he needed $1.7 billion to complete the Agenda 111projects. In his address to the nation, he put the amount at GHS22 billion ($1.4 billion atGHS15.5 to US$). So which is the correct amount?”

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has commended first time Members of Parliament (MPs) in the ninth Parliament for their performance so have noting that the first orientation given them in Parliament has yielded good results.

According to him, the MPs, in the next four years would have to work together to defend and uphold Ghana’s democracy; and commended them for being regular at the constituencies.

The leader who gave the commendation at the opening of the second orientation for all Members of Parliament in the ninth parliament in Ho however noted that the MPs regular presence at their constituencies is also affecting their presence in the chamber.

“There is a lot of work ahead of us and we need to prepare ourselves for it; that is the essence of this exercise. For the returning members, I see we have suffered some casualties, many have gotten into Ministerial portfolios and that is going to take them away from us”.

Again, it is important to note that Ghana has become the envy of a lot of African countries and respected in the world at large because of our democracy, we have the capacity to engage in elections and in between elections our institution of parliament works hard to hold the executive accountable, he added.

The Majority Leader further noted in his address that, to ensure the country is properly run, after the elections, we ensured smooth transition, adding that parliament is the heart beat of democracy, thus “we have held our own in the last three decades”.

“We are liked in the continent, we should remain to hold the high standard; we have to build out skills to remain as a very credible parliament, we have to learn how to hold the executive accountable as MPs”.

Again, we should represent our constituencies and help to run our various institutions efficiently and the democracy we have; it has to deliver economic and social benefits to our people, that is what they expect and we have to get the tools and how to use them.

Thus the orientation exercise helps us gain the skills of how to debate, move motions, how to bring issues into the agenda of parliament, how to get Minister on the floor and how to engage with Minister.

He admonished MPs to build a cordial relationship with the media, stating that there are MPs who spend so much time in their constituencies and yet lost their elections at the end because the campaign against them was always about their inability to make contributions on the floor of the House. “You can do all the development works in your constituencies but if you do not spend time in the chamber, it would count against you in the next election”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com