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Former Chairman of the Health Committee in the eighth Parliament, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye has taken a swipe at the Finance Minister Dr. Ato Baah Forson Cassiel and urged him to apologize to Ghanaians and admit that the promises they made while in opposition to uncap the National Health Insurance fund is not workable.

According to him the previous New Patriotic Party government capped the NHI but the then Minority made a lot of noise about it including President John Dramani Mahama that some funds in the health fund was moved to support the national budget.
“We are expecting nothing less than a full allocation of what was received in the health fund to the NHIA. If the finance Minister says we misused funds and talked of shortfall as we see in the media, I disagree with him, he is intelligent and I would not take his words for granted”.

Again, we approved NHIA in this parliament; it’s a joint effort of the two parties – Majority and Minority. If there is misuse, we have been here several years to approve the budget and they never raised this issue here, he stated.
“Why would you say misuse? You are now Minister of finance, you were a leader of the Minority then, and you have gone to a new office, admit that I spoke more than I should, the reality has caught up with me, I have to go round it and it comes with admitting and apology”.

We are interrogating the position of the Minister of Finance; our expectation is that the NHIA is bringing in funds of about eleven billion Ghana cedis, we want to know what has been actualized, and then we can know what the meaning of a short fall is, the former Chairman of the Health Committee stated.

According to him, during the 24 campaign and on page l02 of the NDC manifesto, the current President said they were going to uncap the NHI, stating that the previous government made eight billion last year but allocated only 6.4billion to the NHIA.

In this practice, government takes some bit of the health fund to support its budget. The whole world was made to understand that, that practice was inimical to the country and the campaign message of the NDC was that they would make all the revenue available to the NHIA.

He asserts that having gone into office, the Finance Minister sees that it is so difficult to uncap, that is to give all the resource from the health fund to the NHI and the only way to go about it is to say that there is misuse of resources and also there is a shortfall; it is not true, they are passing the back door.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minority in its ‘True State of the Nation Address’ at a press conference on Monday has debunked President John Dramani Mahama’s claim that he solved the power crisis (Dumsor) before leaving power in January 2017.

“Mr. President, you did not fix “dumsor” as you claimed in your address. Your record on “dumsor” is abysmal, unlike your predecessor Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who kept the lights on.”

According to the Minority, the government’s handling of the power situation has increased uncertainty about economic growth prospects this year, stating that the promises by the President in his address to the nation to fix the current “dumsor” cannot be different from those he made during the four years of “dumsor” endured by Ghanaians between the end of 2011 and 2016.

They said the current erratic power supply attest to the return of ‘dumsor’ and Ghanaians are anxious and full of fear about the potential devastation this could cause for them and their businesses, especially small businesses. Many people and businesses have already felt the pinch and the pain of living with the current ‘dumsor’. “We have also seen the return of electric generating sets in shops, clinics and at social events.”

The Minority has thus called on the government to release a timetable for easy planning by businesses.

“To ameliorate the impact of these erratic power supplies, we the Mighty Minority call on the government to publish a load shedding timetable to help people and businesses plan effectively to offset some of the losses the economy is currently suffering from.”

Ghanamps.com

Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, the Minister of State in charge of Special Initiatives is walking the talk of government achieving the agenda of transition energy with the introducing of electronic bicycles in parliament which he said would eventually trickle to Ghana’s universities.

According to him a visit to Ghana’s parliament one would see Ghanaians driving their vehicles without looking at focusing on the transition energy that is catching up with the world.

“As I said during my vetting, our Parliament should be one of the ‘greenest’ Parliament in the world. What we want to do is to let most of the MPs if not all MPs to drive electronic vehicles to parliament. We have to make sure we are not using combustible engine vehicles in Parliament”.

In an interview with Ghanamps.com, he noted that it is the main reason why he brought in the electronic bicycles to Parliament House, “where we would not have people driving all over in Parliament with their big cars”.

He further added that this initiative is not only for Parliament, as the presidency also has some of the electronic bicycles and doing same in all the universities in Ghana. “I want the University students to move around their campuses with the electronic bicycle that would let them have easy access to wherever they want to go; they do not need to wait for trotro or taxi. They just have to get on their electronic bicycles to move to class and move around easily on campus”.

As to whether the electronic bicycle and vehicle idea is getting down well with his colleague lawmakers, he noted that it has not been launched yet, as he is awaits approval from the Rt. Hon Speaker Alban Bagbin.

Mr Agyekum disclosed that he is in talks with university of Ghana, Cape Coast University and in the next week or two he should be able to deploy some of the electronic bicycles to Valley View University; and assured that there is no problem with safety issues.

“I believe our university students are as smart as any university students in the world; you cannot tell me that a university student in the UK can use the electronic bicycle and that Ghanaian students cannot use it. It is very simple to use, like our normal bicycles you just need your balancing”.

“As we speak, we have more than twenty to thirty people who have downloaded the app and they have been using the electronic bicycle in Parliament before the speaker’s approval. If you ask the security personnel in Parliament they would tell you they use it.

He said we would be able to decongest the capital city with this initiative, assuring that “it is doable”.
“We can geo-fence Accra, so that if you want to move it beyond Accra, it would not move. Why should we be moving all these cars in Accra? There is so much traffic and it is high time someone changed the dynamics in our country”, he emphasized.

The Minister also stated that the government is seriously working on labour export as he had indicated that to parliament when he came before the Appointment Committee. “We would work out labour exports trying to get our bilateral labour agreements in place. We are going to train people to get the international certification”.

“Why should we see our nurses moving around without jobs when there is international demand for them? There are demands for social workers in the UK and everywhere in the World. So, why can’t we do it? He queried.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Parliament would start debating President John Dramani Maham’s first Message of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, Tuesday, 4th March 2025.

The Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Sumana Bagbin admonished the Majority Members of Parliament (MPs) to show up on the floor in their numbers as they did over the weekend in their first orientation in Ho in the Volta Region.

According to him this is a call on all of us to be present not only that but to showcase what they learnt at the orientation for MPs and to effectively debate as one of the things that was noted in the presentation was for the MPs to win their debates.

And revealed that there is likely to be a second motion; half hour motion and in discussion with leadership it came out that it should come as a motion.

There is an objection for it to come as a full motion and that is likely to come, “I am saying this because I want to see these number on the floor and I would personally be there to preside”, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

President John Dramani Mahama’s 2025 State of the Nation Address (#SONA2025) was a defining moment for Ghana’s political and economic landscape. Delivered with clarity and urgency, Mahama’s speech painted a sobering picture of a country burdened by economic mismanagement, corruption, and excessive government expenditure. However, it was also a call to action—an ambitious roadmap to reset Ghana through fiscal discipline, governance reform, and economic self-reliance.

At the heart of Mahama’s message were six critical pillars: fighting corruption, reducing government size, reforming taxation, eliminating wasteful spending, and boosting local food production. These policies, if implemented effectively, could reshape Ghana’s economic trajectory and restore public confidence in government institutions.

Mahama’s strong stance against corruption was one of the most striking aspects of #SONA2025. His administration’s introduction of the “Operation Recover All Loot” (ORAL) initiative signals a tough crackdown on financial malfeasance. The announcement of investigations into the National Service ghost names scandal and the fraudulent Skytrain payments is a promising start.

Beyond rhetoric, Mahama’s pledge to restructure anti-corruption agencies and increase their funding is a necessary step toward accountability. However, past governments have made similar promises without meaningful action. Ghanaians will be watching closely to see if his administration delivers.

One of Mahama’s boldest reforms is the reduction of government size to just 60 ministers. This move directly addresses the longstanding issue of bloated bureaucracy and excessive government spending. By streamlining ministries and eliminating redundancy, the administration aims to cut costs and enhance efficiency.

The promise to significantly reduce the number of presidential staff is another commendable step. Government expenditure has been a major drain on Ghana’s economy, and Mahama’s pledge to lead by example in cutting costs is a welcome shift from the culture of political extravagance.

Ghana’s tax system has long been a source of inefficiency and frustration. Mahama’s plan to expand the tax net rather than increase rates is a pragmatic approach. By bringing more businesses and individuals into the tax system, the government hopes to generate more revenue without imposing additional burdens on already struggling Ghanaians.

His commitment to reviewing tax waivers on investments is particularly crucial. Over the years, Ghana has lost billions in potential revenue due to poorly structured tax incentives. A transparent and fair taxation system is essential for economic stability.

Perhaps the most patriotic aspect of Mahama’s vision is his emphasis on self-sufficiency in food production. Ghana currently spends over $2 billion annually on food imports—an unsustainable model for a country with fertile lands and a strong agricultural base.

The plan to support local farmers through improved irrigation, subsidies, and mechanization could significantly boost domestic food production. The introduction of initiatives like the “Feed Ghana Programme” and the “Poultry Farm-to-Table Project” demonstrates a practical commitment to reducing food imports and promoting local industry.

While Mahama’s policies outline a promising vision, their success will depend on effective execution. Ghana has heard many grand speeches before, but implementation has often been the Achilles’ heel of successive governments. The coming months will test the administration’s ability to turn these ambitious goals into reality.

Ghanaians are looking for more than promises—they want results. If Mahama can truly reset Ghana by enforcing accountability, curbing corruption, and fostering economic self-reliance, he will cement his legacy as a leader who steered the country toward sustainable progress.

For now, #SONA2025 provides hope. The real question is: Can Mahama and his government deliver on their promises? Only time will tell.

Shang Annang Papa Nii/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

Minister of State in charge of Special Initiatives, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum said he would balance his work as a Minister and also attend to parliamentary duties regularly to avoid the Minority raising issues of quorum on the floor of the House.

Mr Agyekum who was speaking in an interview at the end of the three days orientation in Ho in the Volta Regional admonished his colleagues in the Minority to do their best to come together and be punctual in the chamber to ensure government business goes on.

“I do not think we would have problems; with this orientation it has been good for us and I think our colleagues who came to this orientation know that it is for us to come to the chamber and work for mother Ghana”.

On the issue of cost cutting being the reason why the Minority did not come to Ho for the orientation, he allayed the fears of his colleagues in the Minority stating that President John Mahama has shown the way including cutting down on the number of Minister to sixty (60) and directing the Finance Minister to do same.

He added that the new National Democratic Congress (NDC) government would do a lot in the interest of Ghanaians to ensure they get the needed economic relieve; and in terms of food security there would be interventions to ensure availability of enough food at affordable prices, stating that the government is committed to reducing dependence on imported food items by increasing local production.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/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

The Minority in parliament has rejected the call for proportional debate on the Message of the State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The Minority through its Deputy Whip, Habib Iddrisu has given indication that the Minority would not agree to the Majority’s proportional SONA debate scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

According to him it is alien to the House, that kind of proposition being out forward by the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga when he presented the Business Statement on the floor of the House on Friday, February 28, 2025.

Again, the Majority Leader should know that even in the seventh Parliament when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in the Majority, they never resorted to proportion in terms of debate of SONA.

“We should have five from the Majority and five from the Minority. What is the Majority afraid of? You believe the message the president presented is the state of the Nation; this part of the business statement should be taken away. It is strange to the rule.”

A member who wants to speak would stand in his or her seat when he or she catches the eyes of the Speaker to speak and it did not say proportion should be used, he added.

“Mr. Speaker, the Minority side will not be part of it and will not tolerate it, and we will not allow them to set a bad precedent for us. We will not agree to that, we will all speak and debate SONA”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Appointment Committee of Ghana’s Parliament led by the Chairman, Bernard Ahiafor and seven (7) out of the eleven (11) members have recommended to the plenary that the deputy Ministers designate who were vetted on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, should be approved despite their colleagues boycotting.

They are deputy Minister designate for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Yussif Issaka Jajah; Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini deputy designate for Roads and Highways; deputy Justice and Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai; and Yusif Sulemana, deputy designate for Lands and Natural Resources.

Chairman Bernard Ahiafor after the vetting noted that to form a quorum to transact business of Parliament as well as the business of the committee, Standing Order 217 (1) is to be relied on and they have not faulted on it.

 “Our colleagues in the Minority left us, we have quorum to be able to transact business within article 102 of the Constitution of Ghana. We have gotten to a state where we have to take a decision governed by article 104 of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana”.

Again, by that, a Committee of 11 should have more than fifty percent to be able to take a decision, and fifty percent is five point five, so it should be six and we are seven in number; we satisfy the constitutional requirement in Article 104 and took a decision on the four nominees vetted at the end of the day, he said.

“The Committee has to take a decision to recommend or not, that is where we are; so I take it that the committee is unanimously taken a decision”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com