Parliament’s second meeting will prioritize accountability, with a series of investigations into past financial scandals.

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga announced that the Majority Caucus will spearhead efforts to probe COVID-19 expenditure, the controversial Agyapa Royalties deal, and the $190 million Power Distribution Services (PDS) scandal.

“There must be consequences for brazen plunder of public resources,” Ayariga told the House.
“The gravest danger to our democracy is impunity.”

He added that Parliament will demand regular updates on the activities of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), particularly regarding the $20 billion in financial crimes currently under review.

Ayariga also criticised the previous administration’s reliance on sole-sourced contracts and pledged a comprehensive review of procurement practices.

He stressed that the investigations are not driven by revenge, but rather by the need to “restore integrity and justice to public finance management.”

The Majority Caucus, according to him, also intends to hold the Office of the Special Prosecutor accountable.

“We will adopt U.S.-style committee hearings to unravel systemic corruption,” Ayariga stated.
“This House will not stand idle while public funds are looted with impunity.”

Source: Ernest Arhinful

Patrick Yaw Boamah is the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central

The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, has urged the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor to appear before Parliament to provide answers and clarity regarding the incident involving the missing ECG containers.

According to the lawmaker, who represents the New Patriotic Party (NPP), there are several conflicting reports regarding the ECG containers.

He argued that while initial reports indicated that some containers had gone missing, new information suggests that twice the previously reported number have now been located at the Tema Port.

The minister, he added, must address the issue in the interest of transparency and accountability, and provide a detailed report on the actual number of allegedly missing containers and those that have been recovered.

“The Minister said there are about 1,300 and something. Now GPHA is telling us that they’ve recovered about 2,600 containers. We also heard of about 3,000 containers. That’s why we are going to ask the Minister to come and give us the true position of what happened, what has been recovered, whether they were missing or misplaced. How can containers also be misplaced? It happens at the port and it’s not the first time,” Boamah said while addressing the media in his office in Parliament.

In light of the developments and conflicting reports surrounding the ECG containers, Boamah criticised the tendency of some public officials to play to the public gallery by making premature announcements without sufficient evidence or verified information.

He expressed concern that such actions are often politically motivated, aimed at discrediting opponents, only for the truth to emerge later, forcing those officials to retract or revise their earlier statements.

“If you are a public officer, don’t be quick to call a news conference because what I’ve seen is that people want to vilify their opponents but it will end up being that, ‘oh, what I told the media early on was not a true position.’ At that time, you would have destroyed a person to the public,” he stated.

He added, “That’s why I’m asking that people or public officials should not be too quick to call news conferences and speak about issues about ‘oh, this person has stolen this, this person has done this, this container is missing, we’ve uncovered this rot’, because it’s all about evidence. When you are called to defend what you said at a court of competent jurisdiction, you will be asked to provide the requisite evidence. It’s not about hearsay alone.”

Background

A joint investigative committee has uncovered 2,637 previously unaccounted-for containers consigned to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), more than doubling the initially reported figure of 1,300 containers.

In an interview with 3News, as monitored by GhanaWeb Business, on May 26, 2025 the Spokesperson and Head of Communications at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, Richmond Rockson, confirmed that the containers were located at multiple terminals within the Tema Port, raising concerns.

The discovery was made by a special committee comprising representatives from National Security, the Ministry of Transport, the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority (GPHA), and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

As of April 30, 2025, the containers were found at the following locations:

860 at Meridian Port Services

1,237 at GPHA Terminals

272 already evacuated by National Security

194 at Amaris Terminal

20 at ATLAS Manufacturing Terminal

According to the committee, further investigations revealed that 2,437 of the containers had exceeded the 60-day clearance period, resulting in significant demurrage charges.

Authorities are continuing efforts to address the backlog and prevent future lapses in the importation and clearance process.

MAG/MA

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By Elsie Appiah-Osei 

Accra, May 27, GNA- Madam Patricia Appiagye,  Deputy Minority Leader, has accused the government of operating on an alleged “autopilot” and ignoring the suffering and insecurity engulfing the country. 

Delivering an opening remark at the Second Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament, on the Floor of Parliament on Tuesday, the Deputy Leader highlighted several pressing issues, including the alleged erosion of judicial independence, abuse of state power and economic mismanagement. 

“Mr Speaker, we gather here today not only to reconvene a legislative session, but to recommit to the solemn duty imposed upon us by the Constitution—to serve the people of Ghana with honour, vigilance and integrity. 

“The audacious attempts by the Presidency to undermine judicial independence have reached dangerous proportions. Ghana’s economy is gasping, statutory funds such as the District Assemblies Common Fund have been starved, crippling essential services, dumsor is back. And it has returned with a viciousness that reminds Ghanaians of our darkest power crises,” she said. 

Madam Appiagye added that “The time for caution has passed. The hour of constitutional vigilance is now.” 

The Deputy Leader also expressed concern over the President’s efforts to remove the Chief Justice and allegedlt pack the Supreme Court with loyalists. 

“Mr Speaker, I condemn national security operatives for raiding homes of former appointees, MPs and ordinary citizens with impunity,” she said. 

Madam Appiagyei, also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Asokwa, highlighted the country’s alleged struggling economy, citing unpaid debts, abandoned infrastructure projects and high prices adding that the resurgence of power outages was collapsing business. 

She demanded transparency and accountability in government, particularly regarding the Mahama Cares Initiative and presidential travel. 

“Mr Speaker, the Minister for Foreign Affairs will be summoned to provide a full account of the decision to close Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., there will be an immediate and sustained action to address the humanitarian crisis along the coastline, declaration of a state of emergency to tackle illegal mining and transparency and accountability in government initiatives and expenditures,” Madam Appiagyei noted. 

GNA 

Kenneth Odeng Adade 

The Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has hinted at an impending move by the government to introduce new constitutional guidelines for the removal of Justices of the Superior Courts, including the Chief Justice.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, May 27, during the official opening of the Second Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Mr Ayariga stated that the government intends to lay down clearer and stronger procedural rules to govern how judges of the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court may be removed from office.

While he stopped short of disclosing the specific provisions or legal framework under consideration, Ayariga acknowledged that any such change would necessarily involve the amendment of entrenched provisions of the 1992 Constitution—a process that requires both parliamentary approval and a national referendum.

“The Attorney General will also introduce several subsidiary legislation, including the Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring Regulations, Court of Appeal Rules, Economic and Organised Crime Office (Operations) Regulations, Economic and Organised Crime Office (Terms and Conditions of Service) Regulations, High Court (Civil Procedure) (Amendment) Rules, Interpretation Regulations, Judicial Service (Terms and Conditions of Service) Regulations, Legal Aid Commission Regulations, Supreme Court Rules and, very significantly, Removal from Office of Justices of the Supreme Court Rules.

“President John Dramani Mahama is determined to fast-track legislative reforms to strengthen our institutions of governance and further entrench our democracy.

“The president is committed to legislative clarity with transparency when it comes to the constitutional mechanics of the removal of justices of the superior courts,” he said.

While stressing on the centrality of the independence of the judiciary to the survival of Ghana’s democracy, he pointed to the need for accountability too.

Ongoing petitions against Chief Justice

The Majority Leader’s comments come at a time when the judiciary is under heightened public and legal scrutiny, with an ongoing legal process seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo.

Three petitions, currently being examined by a presidential committee constituted by President John Mahama, alleges administrative misconduct and questions aspects of the Chief Justice’s decisions on judicial appointments and case allocations.

Legal experts and civil society organisations have expressed concern about the politically charged nature discussions on the current removal process under Article 146 of the Constitution.

Some critics argue that the process lacks transparency and is susceptible to abuse by partisan actors.

In response, some constitutional scholars have advocated for reforms to provide clearer timelines, limits on political interference, and stronger safeguards for both judicial independence and public accountability.

Any changes to the removal process would require a constitutional amendment, as the tenure and removal of Superior Court Justices are governed by entrenched clauses in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.

Under the constitution, such provisions may only be altered through a national referendum, following broad public consultations and the endorsement of two-thirds of MPs.

Meanwhile, several civil society organisations, including the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), have called on the government to ensure that any reform process is participatory, transparent, and in line with international standards on judicial independence.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Kofi Tonto is a former Head of Information and Public Affairs at the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC

Kofi Tonto, a former Head of Information and Public Affairs at the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC, has shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of a local staff member, Fred Kwarteng, over alleged corrupt practices believed to have contributed to the embassy’s closure.

In support of a statement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on May 26, 2025, Kofi Tonto disclosed that he personally launched an investigation into Fred Kwarteng’s activities after receiving reports that Kwarteng had established a private company outside the embassy to offer mailing services and was charging clients unapproved fees.

“He is a bad boy. I personally investigated him because he had established his own company. My checks revealed that he was at the embassy around 2015 and was regularized in 2017 as the Foreign Affairs minister indicated.

“His private company was outside the embassy offering mailing services demanding customers to pay extra fees illegally. The incident came to my attention, I took it up with the leadership and they authorised me to investigate him,” he said in an interview on Asempa FM on Monday, May 26, 2025.

Tonto further disclosed that Kwarteng admitted to his misconduct when confronted following the investigation.

He added that, despite the admission, Kwarteng attempted to offer him money in the sum of $10,000 in exchange for his silence, while also revealing that he had accomplices involved in the alleged practices, some of whom held positions of higher authority.

“After my investigations, he admitted to the illegality. He later engaged me in a conversation and told me that he had accomplices who held higher authority than I did and further went on to say I was wasting my time to investigate him,” he added.

Tonto continued saying, “He offered me money in exchange for me to stay silent and overlook what was happening. I’m talking about Fred Kwarteng. He told me bluntly that the report I had filed directed to the ambassador would not yield any results and will be thrown out.”

Tonto, a political aide and member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) also recounted another issue of how the individual cloned the embassy’s official website using it to charge illegal fees.

“… He offered me $10,000 every month to be silent but I rejected it. What shocked me even more was that he had gone as far as cloning the embassy’s official website, ghanaembassy.org, and creating a fake one, ghnaembassy.net with the help of some accomplices, who were civil servants. They were using the cloned site to collect extra fees from unsuspecting applicants. Only a fraction of that money ever made it into the embassy’s official accounts,” he added.

Tonto’s revelations come in the wake of Kwarteng’s dismissal by Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Fred Kwarteng, a local staff recruited in 2017 to work at the embassy is reported by the minister to have illegally diverted visa and passport applicants into his privately owned company called Ghana Travel Consultants.

According to Ablakwa, Kwarteng upon interrogation admitted to using his private company to charge extra fees for multiple services without the knowledge of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and additionally kept the entire revenue generated in his private account.

“Mr Kwarteng was a local staff recruited on August 11, 2017 to work in the embassy’s IT department. According to findings and his own admission, he created an unauthorised link on the embassy’s website which diverted visa and passport applicants to his company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC) where he charged extra for multiple services on the blind side of the ministry and kept the entire proceeds in his private account,” the minister indicated on Monday, May 26, 2025.

The fees charged by Kwarteng were not approved by either the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Parliament, thereby constituting a violation of the Fees and Charges Act.

“His illegal extra charges which were not approved by the ministry and parliament as required under the Fees and Charges Act ranges from US$29.75 to US$60 per applicant. The Investigations reveal that he and his collaborators operated this illegal scheme for at least 5 years,” the statement added.

Ablakwa added that, in addition to the individual’s dismissal, the matter has been referred to the Attorney General for further punitive action.

He also emphasised that all funds illicitly obtained by Kwarteng through his private company will be recovered.

Watch the entire video below:

MAG/MA

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Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has called on Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to resign, accusing him of reneging on a promise he made regarding the use of private jets for presidential travel.

This follows revelations that Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang returned to Ghana aboard a private jet—sparking criticism from sections of the public and members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Speaking on on Joy FM, Mr. Nitiwul recalled Mr. Ablakwa’s repeated criticisms of private jet travel while in opposition, describing it as wasteful and unnecessary. He noted that Mr. Ablakwa had publicly promised to resign if the NDC government ever resorted to renting private jets.

“I think that excuse is laughable,” Mr. Nitiwul stated.

“Nobody asked Honourable Ablakwa to make that promise to the people of Ghana. He didn’t say it would depend on circumstances. He simply said that if they rented a private jet, he would resign.”

He added, “If I were him, I would resign. I wouldn’t even wait for the President to say anything. I would just honourably go, because he claims to be a man of principle. So we are waiting. He made a promise—it wasn’t me.”

Mr. Nitiwul stressed that the commitment was clear and unconditional.

“He never said, ‘If this happens’ or ‘If that doesn’t happen.’ He was direct. He said that if they rented a jet, he would resign. It’s not up to us—it’s up to him to respond. And if he doesn’t, the people of Ghana will judge him accordingly.”

He concluded by rejecting any justification based on changing circumstances. “Trying to say that circumstances have changed won’t work at all.”

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has credited the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government with engineering one of the fastest economic recoveries in Ghana’s recent history.

Delivering the opening statement in Parliament, Ayariga said the country is witnessing “a national awakening” under President John Mahama, marked by a strengthening cedi and declining inflation.

He singled out Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson for special praise, coining the term “Forsonnomics” to describe Ghana’s new economic direction.

“Our cedi has appreciated 24.1% against the US dollar since January 2025,” Ayariga stated. “This isn’t just statistics—it’s translating into real relief for Ghanaian families.”

He indicated that fuel prices and transport fares have dropped significantly across the country, with imported food prices also declining.

The economic turnaround, he noted, was made possible through swift legislative action during the first session of Parliament.

Key reforms included the scrapping of the e-levy, carbon tax, and VAT on insurance. The Majority also led efforts to restructure gold mining levies and ensure full allocations to the education and health sectors.

“Ghana is being reset again,” Ayariga declared, crediting the recovery to the Majority’s bold and resolute governance.

As Parliament begins its second meeting, the Majority Leader urged Members of Parliament to stay committed to fiscal discipline, private sector revitalization, and economic consolidation.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” he said. “But it is the people’s renewed confidence that truly tells the story of our recovery.”

Source: Ernest Arhinful

Dr Clement Apaak is the Deputy Minister of Education

The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak has said that the ministry have commenced processes to enroll private SHS onto the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.

Addressing the press on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Dr Apaak stated that the inclusion of private schools in the Free SHS policy will help facilitate the gradual phasing out of the double-track system in various public senior high schools.

The implementation, which is expected to begin in the next academic year, will, according to the minister, boost the capacity of senior high schools across the country.

“Let me state that as part of our campaign promise, we have been working very diligently to bring on board private senior high schools to participate in the delivery of the free senior high school programme.

Meetings have been held, engagements have been done, and we are very certain that with the diligence that we expect from our side and the eagerness of the private schools to participate, the private schools would deliver in their participation,” the deputy minister said.

He added, “We believe very strongly that in fulfilling this manifesto campaign promise, this is going to serve as an artery in helping us bring an end what we all describe as the obnoxious double track,” he said.

Dr Apaak indicated that the expansion of the Free SHS policy to include private SHS forms part of the ruling government’s campaign promises made in the lead up to the 2024 general election.

This comes on the back of an earlier announcement made by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, where he unveiled reforms to the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy in March 2025.

Iddrisu explained that the policy expansion aims to increase access to secondary education.

“We have decided to extend Free SHS to private schools in Ghana. This means that through the computerized placement system, 150,000 students will be assigned to private senior high schools in addition to those in public institutions,” he stated.

Government to roll out Free SHS in private schools – Deputy Minister pic.twitter.com/qDmQ5FpMWn

— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) May 27, 2025

MAG/MA

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Greater Accra REGSEC has begun a demolition exercise at Sakumo Ramsar site

The Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has launched a demolition exercise targeting illegal structures in the Tema Metropolis, Sakumono, Klagon, and surrounding areas.

The operation, which began on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, is part of a broader government initiative to reclaim encroached lands and mitigate the impact of perennial flooding across the capital.

The exercise is expected to extend to other flood-prone zones, including the Madina La-Nkwantanang and Adentan municipalities.

Addressing newly appointed Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) at a regional meeting held on Monday, May 26, 2025, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, emphasised that illegal developments have significantly contributed to the region’s persistent flooding.

The enforcement follows a recent inspection tour by President John Dramani Mahama, who visited several Ramsar sites and flood-prone areas in Accra.

During the tour, President John Dramani Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to addressing encroachments on protected lands and waterways as a critical step toward safeguarding the environment and ensuring public safety.

Watch the video below:

More scenes unfolding as the Greater Accra REGSEC presses on with the demolition exercise at the Sakumo Ramsar Site. Fred Duhoe is on the ground, bringing you live updates as structures along waterways are pulled down.

The operation is ongoing. Watch live here:… pic.twitter.com/c61CeClTQD

— ChannelOne TV (@Channel1TVGHA) May 27, 2025

JKB/MA

Watch as Parliament reconvenes after Easter recess

Samuel Atta Akyea, legal counsel for former National Signals Bureau (NSB) Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene, has denied allegations that he leaked sensitive national security correspondence related to the ongoing GH¢49 million NSB trial.

According to Ghana Web, Speaking after court proceedings on May 26, 2025, Atta Akyea dismissed claims implicating him in the leak, emphasizing the seriousness of the documents involved.

“I don’t know who leaked it, but I could tell an authority that I would never leak such a letter, but it has implications and ramifications,” he stated.

He further stressed that the content of the letters involves highly sensitive national security matters that should not be exposed to the public.

Atta Akyea also revealed that since the letters were sent, his legal team has not been contacted by national security officials but remains open to any formal communication.

“I’m sure in good time if they want to approach us on some matters or invite us, we will go,” he noted.

The letters in question, addressed to the National Security Coordinator, outline potential national security concerns surrounding the prosecution of Adu-Boahene, who faces 11 corruption-related charges tied to the NSB funds.

Atta Akyea argued that the case contravenes key legal frameworks, including the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030) and the National Signals Bureau Act, 2020 (Act 1040).

In addition, Adu-Boahene has categorically denied misappropriating funds, providing a detailed account of disbursements to various individuals and organizations.

These payments, he asserts, were for legitimate national security operations and included funds allocated to parliamentary committees and specific operations conducted between 2020 and 2024.

Renowned Reggae/Dancehall artiste, Samini

Entertainment pundit and broadcaster Kwame Dadzie has criticised the backlash against the Ghana Tourism Authority’s partnership with Samini, attributing the opposition to political bias.

It could be recalled that following a photo shared by Samini on his social media account announcing a partnership with the GTA, netizens on social media expressed outrage, claiming that the dancehall musician is affiliated with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), thus, he should be dropped.

However, Speaking on Hitz FM, Kwame Dadzie emphasised that Samini’s affiliation with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) should not disqualify him from collaborating with state agencies like the GTA.

According to him, events like Samini Fest have economic benefits, especially employment opportunities across various sectors which contribute to government revenue through taxation and enhance overall productivity.

“If Samini organises Samini Fest at whichever place, calculate the number of people who are going to get employed. Stage, lighting, food vendors, fashion, music. It’s a very long chain of employment. That in turn gets you some revenue into government coffers because there will be taxation. Government is going to reap dividends from that. If we have more of that happening in our system almost every time, we’re going to have higher productivity.

“And so why do you, why do you decide not to let somebody partner GTA? Because the person belongs to the NPP. It doesn’t make sense. If you want to grow this industry, we should stop that thing,” he said.

He asserted that Samini’s collaboration with the GTA does not prevent other artistes, regardless of their political affiliations, from seeking similar endorsements.

Kwame Dadzie called for an end to what he described as “pettiness of politics,” urging stakeholders to focus on unity and professionalism to advance Ghana’s entertainment sector.

“Samini’s partnership with the GTA does not prevent Edem from also taking his events there for endorsement. He pays taxes. Samini has the right as a creative to organise events.

“He has a right to enjoy any incentive that comes from the government for creatives, regardless of the fact that he is NPP because he contributes to the economy in one way or the other.

“Let’s stop this pettiness of politics and then make sure we move this industry forward,” he said.

Meanwhile, the GTA is yet to respond to the criticisms surrounding its partnership with Samini.

ID/EB

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Catherine Afeku is a former Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture

Former Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Catherine Afeku, has highlighted the darker side of politics, stressing the need for strategy and personal values as keys to survival.

Speaking on JoyNews on May 27, 2025, she acknowledged the challenges of political life but noted that actors in the space can navigate its pitfalls with the right mindset and principles.

According to her, it ultimately comes down to personal choices and clearly defined boundaries.

“It depends on how murky you want it to be. If you set your standards, if you set your values and create your own barriers, then you control the extent to which people can make you feel bad, but yes, it’s murky,” she said.

Referencing her favourite book, The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli, she emphasised that betrayal and backstabbing are not only political realities but also common aspects of life.

“My favourite book, by the way, is The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli. You have to read The Prince. There’s backstabbing, backbiting, denigrating, and it’s everywhere, even in church,” she noted.

Despite recognising these darker aspects, Afeku maintained that resilience, self-awareness, and strategy are essential to rising above the chaos.

“You just have to know how to set your boundaries and stay one step ahead of the game. Yes, it’s murky, but you can choose to be a victim or a hero. It all depends on how you handle it,” she added.

VPO/MA

Godfred Alufar Bokpin is an economist and professor of finance

Economist and Professor of Finance Godfred Alufar Bokpin has raised concerns over the absence of anti-corruption measures in President John Mahama’s proposed 8-point economic reset plan.

Speaking on Joy FM on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, he warned that this critical omission could undermine long-term recovery efforts.

“During the president’s inauguration, he highlighted four priority areas, including the fight against corruption. But in this 8-point agenda, corruption isn’t sufficiently addressed. This oversight is concerning, given how crucial transparency is for sustainable growth,” he said.

Professor Bokpin’s critique follows Ghana’s 72nd rank out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perception Index, scoring just 43/100, below the Sub-Saharan African average of 44.

A report by myjoyonline.com on May 27, 2025, indicated that several scandals have rocked the nation, including GH¢12.5 billion lost through procurement irregularities between 2020 and 2023.

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) like IMANI Africa also noted that 37% of all government contracts show signs of over-invoicing.

The report added that the UNODC estimates corruption costs Ghana $3 billion annually, while a 2023 Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) survey showed that 72% of businesses cite graft as a major constraint.

According to Afrobarometer, only 9% of Ghanaians trust the government’s anti-corruption efforts.

In response to Professor Bokpin’s concerns, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Ampem Nyarko said the president’s policy framework is both robust and flexible enough to accommodate additional national priorities, including corruption.

“I want to assure everyone that the eight points President Mahama listed can be expanded to include corruption and other key concerns. We’ve made strong statements in the past about our commitment to fighting corruption, so I do not believe that its omission here suggests the President is any less committed. He has made that clear, and he stands by it,” he said.

He added that President Mahama’s emphasis on Public Financial Management (PFM) reflects the administration’s broader intent to tackle corruption head-on.

“PFM, by its nature, speaks to our resolve to fight corruption. Yes, people expect the President to address everything, but if we tried to include every issue, the list could easily grow to over a hundred points. What matters is that these pillars are expandable, they can evolve to reflect the concerns of our citizens,” he added.

“We want to assure Professor Bokpin and all others with genuine concerns that exiting the IMF program will not lead us back into financial mismanagement. We are determined not to return to the IMF,” he emphasised.

“President Mahama has been consistent on this point, this must be the last time Ghana turns to the IMF. We can be disciplined on our own. And we will be,” he concluded.

VPO/MA