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The Parliament of Ghana on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 approved the repeal of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy).

The Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson during the presentation of the 2025 Budget Statement and Fiscal Policy of the government announced the government decision to abolish the E-levy among other taxes usually referred to as ‘nuisance taxes’.

Dr. Cassiel Ato Frson presented the Electronic Transfer Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025, and it was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration.

The Committee in their report stated that the levy discouraged the adoption of digital payments by penalizing electronic transactions while cash transactions remained untaxed.

The Finance Minister emphasized that repealing the levy would encourage digital transactions, potentially lower inflation, and boost economic activity.

The removal of the E-levy became a topical issue in the lead to the 2024 general elections with the two leading political parties promising to get rid of it.

The introduction of the levy by the previous government in 2022 was without issues as it targeted electronic financial transactions including mobile money transfers, bank transfers, and online payments.

Following the controversies around the levy, the initial 1.5% tax was eventually reduced to 1% and affected transactions above GHC100.00

Meanwhile, the President of the Republic John Dramani Mahama would have to assent to it to take effect.

Ghanamps.com

Parliament on Tuesday approved GH¢3.2 billion allocation for the Ministry of Roads and Highways for the year 2025.
The significant funding is expected to drive major infrastructure projects and improvements in the country’s road network.

According to reports, the Ghana Highway Authority, under the Ministry, plans to recruit 137 new staff members to address the shortfall created by the establishment of new regions and regional offices.

The move is part of the Ministry’s decentralization efforts to enhance operations.

The Ministry has outlined ambitious plans to dualize and improve safety on major trunk roads across the country.
Additionally, the ongoing construction of four by-passes on the Accra-Kumasi Highway at Osino, Anyinam, Enyiresi, and Konongo is expected to continue, further enhancing the country’s transportation infrastructure.

The 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government was presented to Parliament by Dr. Caasiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance on Tuesday, March 11 on the theme: “Resetting Ghana for the Economy We Want.”
The comment on the budget ended on Tuesday March 25 2025 following the Majority and Minority
Leader’s comments.

Elsie Appiah-Osei

The Parliament of Ghana has been called upon to priorities the economic empowerment and financial literacy of women.

Dorcas Affo-Toffey, the Member of Parliament for the Jomoro constituency in the Western Region made this call in a statement on the floor of the House.

According to her this is very important and emphasizing women’s crucial role in Ghana’s economy.
The MP who strongly advocates for women empowerment indicated that, despite owning nearly 44% of businesses and contributing 20% to GDP, many women face challenges in accessing credit due to collateral requirements, high-interest rates, and limited financial education.

She thus commended the government’s 2025 budget allocation for the Women’s Development Bank, a move aimed at providing affordable credit and business support for women.

Drawing from international success stories like India’s Self-Help Groups and Bangladesh’s Grameen Bank, she stressed that financial inclusion leads to economic growth and poverty reduction.

However, she noted that access to finance alone is insufficient without financial literacy. She urged the government and financial institutions to implement nationwide financial literacy programs, offer business development training, and strengthen policies promoting inclusive financing for women.

Hon. Affo-Toffey concluded by stating that investing in women is essential for national progress therefore, calling for the removal of financial barriers to ensure women can fully participate in Ghana’s economic development.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation Samuel Nartey George has hinted that sixty-three radio stations would have their frequencies suspended of which six have had theirs suspended.

According to him, unlike the immediate past government they would not revoke the licenses of the radio stations and with the first six to have their frequencies suspended, he would come before Parliament to brief the House.

Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps he noted that he is already engaging the Ghana Independent Broadcast Association and the Media Foundation for West Africa, as they are already in line with the process being undertaken.
“We cannot have a situation where media house would default the regulations and say that because of press freedom the condition of their licenses would not be met”.

And further added that, President Mahama has intervened and ask that they wave all those finds; some are four million Ghana cedis, “we are waving and giving them a time frame to remedy their situation.”

The Communications Minister affirmed that he has authorized the revocation of radio licenses by the NCC of only one radio station, Gooma FM, “and I did that on the national security consideration. I did not just wake up and do that, I got the request from the Ministry of Interior on behalf of National Security that there were commentaries on that frequency that have huge security implications in Bawku and I wrote back to the Ministry of the Interior telling them I do not take instructions on the shut down or revocation from national security, that I would only take that action if I saw a layer of process that was done and so Interior Ministry went back to local government and had the regional minister convene regional security decision and the minute of which they met took their decision through the Local Government Minister to the Interior”.

According to him, another letter was done and sent to the Communications Ministry, “before I wrote to the NCA ten days from the original date given to the day when I gave the authorization. Unfortunately during that period seven people were killed. So when people say I acted anyhow, no, I followed the process through and when I am acting on the basis of national security”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minister for Communications Samuel Nartey George on Monday, March 24, 2025, revealed that he has inherited a very deeply troubled Ministry that calls for a lot of re-engineering legislative wise and financially.

According to him the legislation on the sector is over twenty-two years old and gave example of the Ghana Telecom Act, 2003, Law on Post and Currier Regulative Commission Act 2003, Law on Data Protection Act 2012, Electronic Transition Act 2008 and Electronic Communications Act 2008.

“The sector’s legislation is supposed to be in the museum not in the ministry; so we are planning in the next four months to bring fresh legislations for all the agencies under the ministry to re-structure it”, he said at a media brief after addressing the House.

Hon Samuel George further revealed that the ministry is debt ridden; the National Communications Authority (NCA) which used to be very buoyant institution that everybody looked up to has been rendered a pale shadow of itself.

Again, NITA has twenty-five Ghana cedis, eighty pesewas as its bank balance at the Bank of Ghana, whiles the agency owes eight hundred and thirteen million, four hundred and eighty six thousand, five hundred and five Ghana cedis eighty-nine pesewas; this is the ministry that we took over.

NITA has a certain contract arrangement with a third party vendor, “I have summoned the third party vendor to appear before me today, I do not understand why all the revenue coming to NITA, the previous administration signed the contract that has taken all of that fund, the revenue that comes and given it to a third party. So, NITA is not getting any money; almost everything at the ministry goes to a third party. Just January this year, services that are run using NITAs infrastructure, that I was supposed to approve to a third party company was almost four million Ghana cedis”.

“I have refused to sign it and it has been referred to the Attorney General and Minister for Justice; I would not sign until I understand why NITA is not getting any money and a private sector player is using NITAs infrastructure earning in excess of almost four million Ghana cedis and all the debt in NITAs book and revenue going to the private sector. The Ministry is a true definition of state capture; and I would take my time to come before the House and brief the House extensively on the rot in the Ministry.”

On staff rationalization ongoing at the ministry, the Minister showing frustration on his face questioned, “if you are a minister and you take over a ministry that has three thousand one hundred and seventeen staffs in the ministry and its agencies and you notice that almost 600 were employed after Saturday December 7, 2024”, basically, you cannot expect me to come and inherit such a mess and continue with it. So the rationalization is ongoing; today I have authorized the termination of a few more at Ghana Post, almost a hundred that were done post December 7, 2024.

“We would continue this rationalization; I would clean up the Ministry and make sure its lean and efficient and carries out its work, and I would be counting on you the media”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh has taken a swipe at the Majority side of the House in their delay in presenting the 2025 budget estimates and lists of re-composed delegation to the Pan African Parliament when the House met on Monday, March 24, 2025.

He states, “the 2025 budget estimate no show, lists of re-compose delegation to the Pan African Parliament no show, and a member to the Pan African Parliament in the eighth Parliament Collins Dawuda, who is in the chamber and want to represent Ghana at the continental Parliament looks sad”.

But the Minority Chief Whip’s comment did not go down well with the Asutifi South MP who pointed out that, he has always been happy in the past eight years even when he was being prosecuted.

“When it comes to approval of budget estimates, what has changed? When he was Majority whip in the eighth Parliament, it was same thing we should rather appeal and not satisfy the gallery”.

Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor on his part pointed out that since they have 24-Hour Economy, Members of Parliament should be prepared to work within the twenty-four-hour economy.

Hon Matthew Nyandam on his part stressed the need for welfare of MPs to be taken seriously, stating that sitting late into the night was not good for health of MPs more especially a government which claims its resetting.

“We should not sit beyond 10:00pm; if this was being done previously that is why we had the change and said we are resting so March 28, 2025 as the House goes on recess we should not sit late into the night”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minority is calling on the John Dramani Mahama led government to follow due process to arrange former appointees of the Nana Akufo-Addo before court if they have any case against them than raiding their residence like they did in the case of the immediate past Governor Dr. Ernest Addison and several former appointees.

Addressing the media on Monday, March 24, 2025, Jerry Ahmed called on the media to advocate against such backward behavior as Ghana is progress and moving forward.

When questioned on his view about appointees of John Mahama in his first administration where appointees suffered the same fate in 2016 when there was change of government, he said, “It may be me today, it maybe you tomorrow you would not know which position you would be occupying, let people allow the structures to work. As the chief legal adviser to the people and to government, what you must do is to adhere to the very principles of the constitution”.

“Again, we should stop the conversation that happened previously. Why are we in government; are we in government to always think of retribution, are we in government to always be using state power to just empower ourselves to the detriment and neglect of people? There is a need for us to have genuine conversations about the way forward.

Allow the state structures to work; let us not make state structures partisan, all we are saying is that this is becoming persistent and consistent and if this is the way to go that is not what we are looking for”.

Jerry Ahmed s added that he does not think the president had this overwhelming vote by Ghanaians to come and perpetuate this illegality. “Ghanaians voted for you because they needed a change and that change should resonate in the way and life style of the people in your action”.

In addition, why would I vote for you when you promise to do better in addressing galamsey and it is becoming worse? We voted for better standard of living and there is increase in transport fairs, we should have the mentality of Ghana first and change from our old ways of doing things, he affirmed.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Ministry of Defence is facing a significant debt crisis, as food suppliers threatened to withdraw their services over outstanding payments.

The government owes these suppliers GH¢275 million, an amount accumulated over 17 months, raising concerns about the sustenance of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Beyond food supplies, the Ministry’s total liabilities have surged to GH¢3.7 billion, covering various financial obligations, including the supply and repair of equipment, as well as the procurement of essential machinery.

The scale of the debt has prompted urgent discussions on how to stabilize the Ministry’s financial standing.

Sector Minister Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah on the floor of the House on Friday, March 22, 2025, revealed that the Finance Ministry is actively working to clear the arrears.

The Minister recognized the gravity of the situation, and stressed the need for immediate intervention to prevent disruptions within the Ghana Armed Forces.

“It must be placed on record that the outstanding indebtedness in terms of claims is almost GH¢3.7 billion, and this includes debt owed to food suppliers, costs related to equipment supply and repair, and the provision of machinery,” Dr Boamah stated.

He further highlighted the food suppliers’ warning, emphasising, “Mr Speaker, we all know soldiers should not and must not march on empty stomachs.

However, food suppliers have threatened to halt supplies due to the government’s indebtedness, which dates to August 2023.”

Despite these financial challenges, Dr Boamah assured Parliament that efforts are underway to resolve the crisis.
He expressed confidence in the Finance Minister’s commitment to keeping up with current financial obligations while implementing measures to gradually settle the substantial arrears.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

As part of the healing process within the New Patriotic Party after their heavy defeat in the December 7, 2024, presidential and parliamentary elections, Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Opoku Ansah is of the opinion that card bearing members should be allowed to vent their displeasure; but urged that it should be done cautiously.

According to him, it is the reason the reason the Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye’s Committee was set up by the party.

In an interview with Ghanamps.com he pointed out that one or two members would not be happy with the entire process, and might want to vent their anger on radio, despite the approved platform created by the party, “however, one needs to be mindful of the terrain”, he cautioned.

He asserts that a lot of people might not have the opportunity of meeting the Prof Oquaye Committee, but it does not also mean that people should break boundaries and just talk anyhow.

In the specific case of the former Dome/Kwabenya lawmaker, he explained that she had gone through a lot including being wrongly accused of being the person who voted against Professor Oquaye in his bid to become Speaker of the 8th Parliament. “There was a lot of hullaballoo surrounding her name”.

Mr Ansah noted that drawing closer to her one would realize the truth, “I went on radio personally attacking her”.

He recalled that looking at where the NPP party was with 137 on both sides and an independent MP who caucused with them to have the majority, “we had to make some sacrifices. I had a surgery in 2024; sometimes you do a surgery today, the next day you are asked to come down to Ghana. Those are the sacrifices we went through. I know of a colleague who gave birth in the US three days, she had to leave the baby in the US come down to Ghana to participate in parliamentary work”.

Within the week the former Dome/Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo was the focus of discussion as she hopped from one media station to the other trying to set the record straight on some of the accusations leveled against her in the 8th parliament. Her action caught the attention of the leadership of the party and was immediately referred to the party’s disciplinary committee.

The Mpraeso MP further noted that they did not know the full story of Adwoa Safo, adding that if she had opened up to any colleague, the person could have even spoken to the other side. “This is a colleague who is going through a lot; it would have saved us from those acrimonies we witnessed in the eighth parliament; that is my position”.

He furthermore added that the attacks the former Dome/Kwabenya MP received affected her in her parliamentary primaries; “if her constituents knew that she was genuinely going through a problem, people would not have judged her wrongly”.

“For such a person she has a lot of pain in her, once she starts venting them, if you are a leader approach her, be compassionate about it, listen to her side of the story and try and find remedy to whatever she is saying and that is the approach”.

He advised the party to take a second look at the decision to drag her to the disciplinary committee as it would not help.

As to whether his party would listen to him as he twitted on X, he said, “I think they have, I am told today leadership went to her house, they engaged her, she said her side of her story and I appreciate the leadership because it shows that when their members talk they listen; for me that is the way to go”.

He disclosed that just last week, former MPs who also pointed accusing fingers at the presidency for their defeat met with the Professor Oquaye Committee and put their issues across particularly on why the party lost.

“They came to my constituency and people spoke about why the depreciation in our votes. It is something I am working towards to help the party win massively in the next election.

So, people are being given the opportunity to speak. I am praying all party members would exercise restraints; we are all hurt, if I say I am going to say my story today I am not sure people would be able to listen to me”.

“It’s our party, let us allow the party to go through the process; with the Professor Oquaye Committee work, I am sure their committee report would bring reforms and get the party set for 2028 election victory”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The energy sector debt of Ghana should be addressed since energy is the life blood of every economy, Member of Parliament for Sunyani West Millicent Yeboah Amankwah pointed out during her contribution to the 2025 budget when she took her turn to debate.

According to her in 2024, the ministry of finance supported the energy sector with the payment of about one point five billion US dollars equivalent to twenty point eight billion cedis.

This amount she noted could have been used for any other project like roads and schools among others; but added that she believes in the Ministry and Minister of Roads and Highways that with the ‘Big Push’ initiative by President John Mahama infrastructure would be taken care of.

“If you look at this amount of money and we ask ourselves of the recent exercise conducted by the energy sector, the energy sector recovery programme has revealed that the energy sector financial shortfall has increased to thirty-five billion cedis in 2025”.

Mr. Speaker, where are we going as a country with this whole budget, without the energy sector we cannot work; if you look at the current state of the energy sector there is massive financial shortfall.

The independent power producers, we owe them one point seven- three billion dollars which is even more than what the former finance ministry gave as support to the energy ministry.

She said ECG owes 68 billion cedis currently which they cannot even pay, and COCOBOD also owes 32 billion cedis which is going to affect power supply and adversely affect any industry that depends on them, she added.

The Sunyani West MP further stated that the cost of power generation is very high but with President John Mahama who has promised to introduce more solar system to support our electricity generation system, “it might be costly per capital, but with the long years ahead of us it would add up three cent per kilowatt which is going to help us”.

We can say whatever we want to say in this country but if the energy sector is not catered for looking at the debt and areas we need invest in the consequences may be dire to us; she said.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com