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Ninety percent of challenges facing the road sector are financially related; Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Agbodza stated on the floor of Parliament and lamented over the inability to judiciously apply the scares resources we have as a nation.

According to him, one point nine million dollars ($1.9 billion) had been earmarked for the dualization of the Accra-Kumasi Road, with a variation of one point seven billion dollars ($1.7 billion), stating that he has not seen such a worse situation before.

Governs Agbodza further added that to address issues of road construction, enough preparations on drawing and design should be done and funds secured for its execution.

“Ghanaians are not getting the needed value with a lot of roads being built and the Accra to Kumasi is design and build, one point nine billion and has one point seven billion variations to it”, stating that it is the more reason that under the Big Push program, President John Mahama wants redesign done and built.

Additionally, the sector Minister noted that a drone shot was captured of the site for the dualization of the Accra-Kumasi road; and it was later noticed that galamsey activities were on some portions hence the cost of construction went overboard.

The Minister received a lot of heckling from his colleagues from the Minority side of the House, who pointed out that, the Accra-Kumasi dualization project was signed by civil servants and not by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

“Sometimes, as politicians we take blame for things we are not supposed to take blame for; it is civil servants who carried the work out and put the contract document together. Why are politicians taking blame for things we are not responsible for? I am happy you are feeling uncomfortable about this revelation and it would help the Majority side not to repeat the mistakes you did”.

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The Techiman, Sawla to Wa roads would benefit from President John Dramani Maham’s big push agenda; the Minister for Roads and Highways Governs Kwame Agbodza revealed on the floor of the House.

According to him half a billion dollars is needed to address it and President John Dramani Mahama has instructed that be done, hence the Ministry is putting together a full design and cost to avoid unprepared reactions to addressing the road issues.

Contributing to a statement made by the Member of Parliament for Daffiama/Daffiama/Bussie/Issa Dr. Sebastian Sandaare who appealed for an urgent rehabilitation of the Wa-Bole-Techiman Road to allow easier movement and boost economic growth, the road minister recounted that he has traveled around the country extensively during the 2024 elections, and it is true that you could get to parts of the country and you would wonder whether that is still within the boundaries of Ghana; whether the people staying in those areas also feel they are benefiting from the efforts of the country.

I agree that we have a lot of problems, but some are bigger. The Western corridor right from Elubu to Hamele is very strategic because if you consider the fact that, if you are coming from Hamele you can easily go to Takoradi.

Furthermore, we know that some agriculture products from Ivory Coast can easily come through that part; and the areas have mining potentials too for Ghana, he disclosed.

He noted that the western railway is supposed to be tailored on the same route; “you should try the rout and you see the horror story, something we should have done like yesterday and the stretch is about six hundred and seventy kilometers”.

Mr Agbodza stated that it would cost us one million dollars per kilometer without dualizing it, double surfacing and other things. “If you add interchanges and others it could easily be more than one point two billion dollars”.

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Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said this year’s budget is people centered for the poor and creation of jobs.

He pointed out that the budget is in to re-set the Ghanaian economy as they recognize that the economy is in crisis but most importantly the John Mahama led government is putting measures, innovations and interventions to address it.

Again, the budget provides incentives for the private sector growth for job creation. It introduces innovations to address key funding concerns, growth-oriented interventions to support national development, he stated.

Addressing his colleague Members of Parliament at a post budget workshop in Parliament, he noted that the budget for 2025, the overall GDP growth is 4 percent and inflation of 11.9 percent; primary balance at a surplus of 1.5 percent of GDP and gross international reserve that would cover not less than three month of import cover.

He said they have outlined a number of revenue and expenditure measure to support the achievement of their fiscal objectives and target and call on the House to pass various legislations that would operationalize the measures.

Among the initiatives proposed for implementation in the budget include;
• the 24- Hour Economy to support inclusive job creation;
• the ten billion Big Push Project Policy starting this year; and
• the establishment of Ghana Gold Board to support foreign exchange inflows.

The gold reserve accumulation to benefit our dear country aside implementing the agriculture for economic transformation, we want to use government procurement to drive made in Ghana goods and drive local participation in our economy and also social protection through the introduction of various social intervention programs to complement existing programs to alleviate the current economic hardship, he emphasised.

Dr. Forson further added that, they are undertaking key structure reforms to support inclusive fiscal growth and debt sustainability, sound public financial management, an efficient public service delivery and good governance.

“We want to promote fiscal discipline and debt sustainability by amending the fiscal responsibility act to include debt ceiling and the establishment of independent fiscal council to monitor and adhere to it”

We intend to rationalize VAT and Covid levy later this year after stakeholders’ consultation to receive the technical assistance from the IMF and that of the rationalization taskforce that we would be commissioning in the coming days.

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Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has urged his colleagues to take the 2025 post budget workshop seriously; stating that they should not assume that ones the budget is presented everybody understands it.

“We need to enhance the opportunity for all of us to understand the budget beyond just reading it”, he stated in his open remarks on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the post budget workshop.

“I hope we accept that it is our responsibility to accept and reject the budget; that is what we are to do. The budget statement contains policy statement and also estimates figures; not all of us are good with policies and figures”.

Mr Ayariga further noted that the post budget workshop is to help MPs understand the budget and policy statement and what is contained in the figures and the implications for their constituents, for the market women, okada riders, teachers and students.

“We are not all economists and finance experts; whiles experts in the various fields have been assembled to help us in this direction to understand the policy document, when all is done, we expect the Majority side MPs to relate this figures and policies to the commitment we made to Ghanaians based on which they elected us, and how this would help in achieving the reset agenda.

For the Minority, we expect you to be very critical of the document and to see how they can expose the weakness in the budget, so that as a country we can be well guided when we are considering the approval.”

The Leader of the House urged the MPs to pay attention and learn, cautioning them not to assume they know it all and avoid the exercise.

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Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has given indications that the Bank of Ghana would be re-structured this year to strengthen its independence for it to operate efficiently to deliver for the people of Ghana, particularly in areas of price and exchange risk stability.

According to him Government also intends to formalize the export of Ghanaian labour to other countries and introducing measures that would protect the Ghanaian who is working abroad.

At the opening of a three-day post budget workshop for MPs in Parliament House, he noted that, they have adopted an innovative approach to address some of our long-standing problems, including reduction of the tax refund ceiling to close the gap of elimination of some of the taxes that were introduced.

He stated that the government is uncapping the National Health Insurance (NHI), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), and the road fund as well as some critical government expenditures. Additionally, he is providing sustainable sources of funding for the free secondary education and free tertiary education for persons with disabilities.

He proposed to the House that the ADFA to be allocated largely for infrastructure – ‘the big push infrastructure’ instead of spreading it so thinly to cover some expenditures that are not desirable.

Again, we are placing a limit on project loan disbursement for both bilateral and multilateral loans within this year. We call on the House to support us ones again as you have done in the past with various finance Ministers, he pleaded.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has admonished first-time Members of Parliament to take the three days post budget workshop being organized in parliament seriously and not see it as boring.

According to him MPs should not be too expectant but rather spend time and participate. “Do not walk in and out, stay in and build your capacity and build confidence so that, when the day comes and you are debating and some back benchers are heckling you, you would remain resolute, firm and deliver with the confidence you have developed from this training.”

He added that it is apt to have this budget training programme because it would help their analytical programme, improve their abilities to deal with their inefficiencies and strengthen their oversight functions.

“The Minister of Finance tells us there is one point five billion cedis for agriculture; if you look at the expenditure part, you notice there is some nine hundred million cedis plus has been allocated.

So if you pay attention, these are some of the things you would discover and then you make a meaningful impact in your debate by drawing the attention of the finance minister to this.

You would be able to talk about school feeding has an excess of two billion and other critical areas has less amount, so if you are a member of that committee you would not make a case, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has mocked the Majority Members of Parliament for abandoning business on the floor of the House to chase for work at the presidency.

On Thursday, March 13, 2025, it took the Minority Leader to raise issues with the worrying practice of the Majority MPs abandoning business on the floor to compel the deputy whips to whip MPs on the Majority side to rush to the chamber to avoid issues of quorum.

“Mr. Speaker why are the Majority MPs making the work of the deputy whip comfort Doyoe very difficult, she is moving around to ensure that MPs come to the floor”, Afenyo queried.

On Friday, March 14, 2025, when the finance minister appeared before the House to lay some papers around 1:00pm only forty MPs from the Majority side were present in the chamber.

It is also said that some of the MPs have also abandoned the chamber only to monitor proceedings on the floor from their offices.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

As Ghana enters the 2025 rainy season, the pressing question remains: Are we prepared for the challenges ahead, or will we once again wait for disasters to strike before taking action? Year after year, the country experiences heavy rains that bring both blessings and destruction—flooding, loss of lives, destruction of property, and outbreaks of diseases. Despite recurring warnings, it often seems that the government, district assemblies, and disaster management agencies react only after the worst has happened.

According to climate experts, Ghana’s 2025 rainy season will be significantly influenced by global heat waves, which have reached record levels over the past few years. The excessive heat has disrupted normal wind patterns, contributing to unpredictable rainfall patterns.

• Most parts of the country are expected to experience near-normal to below-normal rainfall.
• The southeastern coastal areas will likely receive above-normal rainfall, increasing the risk of flooding.
• The southwestern regions may face below-normal rainfall, leading to potential drought conditions.
• Longer dry spells of 8-13 days at the beginning of the season and 10-19 days at the end could negatively affect agriculture and water supply.

Given these projections, the responsibility lies with government bodies, local authorities, and communities to implement proactive measures before it is too late.

Flooding remains one of the biggest threats during the rainy season, particularly in cities like Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi. But has enough been done to prevent a repeat of previous disasters?

• Drainage Systems: Many drains are still clogged with waste, despite repeated calls for desilting before the rains. Has the government ensured that major drains are cleared?
• Flood Warning Systems: Are there adequate early warning systems in place, or will residents once again wake up to rising floodwaters with no prior alert?
• Emergency Shelters: Have district assemblies designated safe zones and shelters for those in flood-prone areas, or will evacuation efforts be last-minute and disorganized?

For farmers, an unpredictable rainy season means the risk of crop failure, loss of livestock, and food shortages. What steps are being taken to support agriculture?

• Have authorities provided farmers with drought-resistant seeds and improved irrigation options?
• Is there enough food storage in place to prevent shortages if certain regions experience poor harvests?
• Are agricultural extension officers providing guidance on climate-smart farming practices?

Heavy rains often bring health crises, including cholera, malaria, and respiratory infections. Have public health authorities made the necessary preparations?

• Are hospitals and clinics stocked with mosquito nets, anti-malaria drugs, and cholera treatments?
• Has there been enough public education on hygiene and sanitation to prevent waterborne diseases?
• Is the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) coordinating with health agencies to prepare for emergency medical responses?

Strong winds and heavy rains frequently damage roads, bridges, and power lines. How prepared is the country to minimize disruptions?

• Has routine maintenance been carried out on roads and bridges in flood-prone areas?
• Are power companies monitoring vulnerable areas to prevent outages and electrocutions?
• Are construction projects adhering to proper drainage planning, or are buildings still being constructed in waterways?

Ghana has seen the consequences of poor planning and delayed responses during previous rainy seasons. The time for reactionary measures is over—it is time for a proactive approach.

• Government agencies must act now to ensure adequate flood control, infrastructure maintenance, and health preparedness.
• District assemblies must enforce regulations against building in flood-prone areas and ensure drains are properly maintained.
• Communities must take responsibility by keeping their surroundings clean and reporting hazards before they turn into disasters.
• The media and civil society organizations must hold authorities accountable to ensure early interventions are implemented.

President John Dramani Mahama recently breathed air of hope in dealing with flood issues with the establishment of a seven-member Anti-Flood Taskforce to combat Ghana’s persistent flooding challenges.

As part of its field operations, the Anti-Flood Taskforce conducted an aerial reconnaissance mission to assess flood-prone areas and gather critical data to prevent future disasters.

Key locations surveyed included Weija, the Sakumono Ramsar site, and the Tema Fishing Harbour area. Following the aerial survey, Mr. Stanislav Dogbe announced that the government will enforce stricter flood prevention measures.

The 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, in collaboration with local government authorities, will commence desilting of major drains to improve water flow and mitigate flood risks. Additionally, a road reconnaissance survey will be undertaken to assess the impact of poor drainage systems on flooding.

Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim assured that flood assessment efforts will extend beyond Accra to other regions. “The rains will be setting in soon, and permanent solutions must be implemented. But in the interim, maintenance works like desilting must be the immediate step,” he stated.

The question remains: Are we truly prepared for the 2025 rainy season, or will we wait for another disaster before we take action?

Shang Annang Papa Nii/Ghanamps.com

Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the Country is dedicated to re-building trust and prevent further division within the West African sub-regional bloc.

According to him President John Dramani Mahama’s diplomatic outreach to the Alliance for Sahel States (AES) and his engagement with key leaders in Burkina Faso Niger and Mali reflect Ghana’s dedication to forest dialogue, re-building trust, and preventing further division within the sub-region.

Ghana, he said would therefore continue to champion dialogue on economic cooperation and security collaboration among all West Africa nations in the sub-region as the future should be built on partnership and not division, cooperation not conflict. Ghana would therefore work closely with our brothers and sisters in AES to rebuild trust, restore good neighborliness, and re-affirm our commitment to a stronger united West Africa.

Again, Ghana stands ready to serve as a “bridge of reconciliation and cooperation given Ghana’s diplomatic influence, it is well positioned to support renewed dialogue and encourage collaboration between ECOWAS and AES nations”.

As a nation committed to Pan Africanism, good neighborliness, regional integration and multilateralism, Ghana would continue to champion constructive engagement, economic cooperation and security collaboration to ensure stable a prosperous future for all West African nations.

The Minister made this known when the Member of Parliament for Suhum Frank Asiedu Bekoe wanted to know how Ghana intends to reconcile AES with ECOWAS taking into cognizance the foreign policy of Ghana on Pan Africanism, good neighborliness, non-alignment and multilateralism.

Mr Okudzeto further told the House Ghana is one of the pioneers of united Africa and its people form a cardinal part of our foreign policy and founding members of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that is why this year the Heads of States have decided that the bloc as part of its fifty (50) year’s celebrations should start here in Accra next month to herald the celebration; and we should note that article 40 of the 1992 Constitution enjoys us that in pursuit of our international relations, we should promote and protect that national interest of Ghana, and that is the principle that guides our foreign policy.

The evolving relation between ECOWAS and the newly formed Alliance for Sahel States, AES is a matter of great significance to the sub-region and Ghana remains committed to the ideas of regional unity, peace, security and economic cooperation, he added.

Additionally, Ghana recognizes the need for diplomatic engagement to bridge the current divide to prevent further fragmentation within West Africa despite the AES formal withdraw from ECOWAS which was finalized at the end of January 2025.

“Free movement of people goods and services remain intact as confirmed by ECOWAS and AES member states. Trade under ECOWAS, the trade liberatlisation scheme continues and AES passports remain recognized. Additionally, ECOWAS funded development projects in AES countries would not be disrupted ensuring economic and infrastructure support.

Security cooperation remains a shared priority, particularly in the fight against terrorisms, violent extremism, and money laundering; the inter-governmental action group against money laundering in West Africa of which Ghana is a member would maintain its collaboration with AES countries.

As AES counties have already applied for six month extension to formalize their membership processes, ECOWAS has also granted AES six month grace period until July 2025 to reconsider their decision to leave.

The ECOWAS Commissioner for peace and security urging them to explore the possibility of re-joining as a bloc, diplomatic engagement between AES and ECOWAs are also ongoing to facilitate cooperation and potential re-integration, he announced.

“You may recall that Ghana’s foreign policy has been guided by Pan Africanism, good neighborliness, non-alignment and multilateralism. These values continue to shape the countries approach as to work to restore trust, foster reconciliation and promote a common vision for regional development and stability.

Ghana’s role as a bridge in regional unity, we remain fully committed to peace security and economic prosperity in West Africa”, Mr Okudzeto said.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, Abena Osei-Asare has downplayed President John Dramani Mahama’s maiden Budget Statement and Fiscal Policy stating that it is riddled with credibility issues.

According to her in terms of revenue for this year 2025, the real growth and total revenue and grant as on page 132 of the budget and 134 is just 0.2 percentage point.

Addressing the media on Thursday, March 13, 2025, she indicated that they left it at15.9 percent tax to GDP and an economy that they claim to be resetting is only growing revenue by 0.2 percent; that is 16.1 percent of GDP at the end of last year.

The revenue numbers were 182 billion Ghana cedis and they want to grow it to 224 billion Ghana cedis in 2025, the growth in real terms is not encouraging, she said.

“If you listen to the Minister of Finance Dr. Ato Forson in paragraph 173 they are projecting a tax revenue of 17. 2 percent as two different figures are being thrown here.
The real details are in the budget appendix and there is a problem with the credibility of the 2025 budget.”

“We have laid a solid foundation for this government to operate and its very disingenuous for them to create the impression that we left them with an economy full of problems”.

A few months ago, the IMF concluded its third programme, just a section of the staff report Ghana’s policy and support under the IMF programme has continued to deliver encouraging results. Following the financial pressure in 2022 the fund supported project has provided a credible anchor for the government to adjust microeconomic policy and launch comprehensive reforms to restore Macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, she noted.

“While laying the foundation for higher and more inclusive growth, these efforts are paying off with the growth recovery rapidly with inflation declining despite at a slow pace and the fiscal and external position further improving”, the IMF documents noted.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com