Korkor Laurette Asante and John Dramani Mahama
The Member of Parliament for Atiwa West Constituency, Korkor Laurette Asante, has criticised the government over its failure to deliver on its promise to establish a Women’s Development Bank, a key campaign commitment of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking on the floor of Parliament during a debate on the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP accused President John Dramani Mahama’s administration of engaging in what she termed “economic betrayal dressed up as economic policy.”
“Mr Speaker, the NDC, when they were in opposition, said they would reduce taxes and ease burdens. But what we’re seeing is economic betrayal dressed up as economic policy,” she said.
Asante expressed disappointment that the much-touted Women’s Development Bank, which was expected to empower women entrepreneurs and market traders across the country, has not materialised.
“Mr Speaker, the government promised a Women’s Development Bank as a flagship intervention to support our women. All the women, including those in Abomosu, the traders in Kwabeng, and the market women in Bansu, were looking forward to this,” she lamented.
According to her, the government initially earmarked only GH₵51 million as seed money, an amount she described as “paltry” compared to the minimum capital requirement of GH₵400 million for establishing a bank in Ghana.
“Even that amount, we have heard nothing since. Not a single mention of the women’s bank was made in this mid-year budget review,” she said.
The Atiwa West legislator noted that, despite earlier assurances that legal and preparatory work were underway, six months later, there is still no legal framework, implementation plan, or progress report on the bank.
“Mr Speaker, where is the women’s bank? This so-called women’s bank has become a ghost — budgeted in hoop and buried in silence. Clearly, Mr Speaker, the government is unable to deliver, or they just don’t have the will or Killer Ntua, so Mahama ntua?. The women’s development bank is Yamutu.”
“Where is the Women’s Development Bank, anaa Killer Ntua, Nti Mahama nso ntua. The Women’s Development Bank is yaamutu”
—Minority Member and MP for the Atiwa West Constituency, Hon. Korkor Laurette Asante. pic.twitter.com/nuFqz91i65
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) July 28, 2025
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