In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, May 23, 2026, the Government described President Macron’s position as a significant and commendable step toward addressing the enduring legacy of the transatlantic enslavement of Africans.

According to the statement, President John Mahama praised President Macron for what he described as “honest, open, conciliatory and exemplary leadership” on the issue of reparatory justice.

The Government noted that France’s decision to work with Ghana on reparatory justice issues was announced during an event marking the 25th anniversary of France’s law declaring slavery a crime against humanity.

Ghana also welcomed France’s intention to repeal the colonial-era slavery statutes known as the Code Noir, describing the move as an acknowledgment that such laws are incompatible with modern democratic values and human rights principles.

The Ministry stated that Ghana appreciates President Macron’s recognition of the need for honest engagement with history and believes such acknowledgment is necessary to advance meaningful dialogue and action on reparatory justice.

The statement further revealed that Ghana and France are expected to collaborate on a proposed Ghana-France Scientific Commission to be established in Ghana as part of broader efforts to deepen historical research, institutional cooperation and reconciliation initiatives.

Government also expressed gratitude to President Macron for accepting an invitation to participate in the “Next Steps” High-Level Conference on Reparatory Justice scheduled to take place in Accra from June 17 to June 19, 2026.

The conference is expected to bring together Heads of State, ministers, scholars and civil society representatives from Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and the Americas to deliberate on reparatory justice and the long-term effects of slavery.

The Ministry indicated that the summit seeks to move global discussions beyond recognition toward concrete action, including scholarly partnerships, policy frameworks and mechanisms for redress grounded in good faith and mutual respect.

The statement also referenced the landmark United Nations General Assembly resolution adopted on March 25, 2026, by 123 member states, which recognised the transatlantic enslavement of Africans as one of the gravest crimes against humanity and called for constructive international engagement on reparatory justice.

Government said the resolution, led by President Mahama in his role as African Union Champion on Reparatory Justice, has opened a new chapter in international conversations on historical accountability and justice for descendants of enslaved Africans.

The Ministry reaffirmed Ghana’s readiness to engage bilaterally and multilaterally with countries and institutions willing to pursue meaningful dialogue and concrete actions on reparatory justice.

It added that achieving lasting justice would require sustained commitment, honest dialogue and cooperation among nations with shared histories connected to slavery and colonialism.

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Speaking during President Mahama’s Savannah Regional tour, the Roads Minister disclosed that nearly all contractors had abandoned sites before the current administration assumed office, largely due to non-payment and uncertainty surrounding government transitions.

According to him, unlike previous administrations that suspended road contracts awarded by predecessors, President Mahama had adopted a different approach by allowing all ongoing projects to continue irrespective of which government awarded them.

“President Mahama decided that no road contract should be terminated or suspended because it was awarded by the previous government,” Mr Agbodza stated.

He explained that the administration had also prioritised the payment of contractors’ certificates in order to restore confidence in the road sector and return contractors to site.

“A president within 12 months has paid in excess of GH¢12 billion to contractors he did not appoint,” he revealed, describing the move as part of the government’s “reset” strategy for infrastructure delivery.

The Roads Minister argued that previous road expenditure patterns created deep regional inequalities, claiming that nearly 70% of road budgets were concentrated in Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions at the expense of less-developed regions such as Savannah, Oti and Upper West.

According to him, the Mahama administration was now shifting towards what he termed an “equity-based development model,” under which all regions would receive a fair share of national infrastructure investments.

“So every region must feel part of the development,” he stressed.

Mr Agbodza identified the Wechi-Wa corridor as one of the flagship projects under the government’s “Big Push” infrastructure programme, describing it as the longest corridor currently under construction through the Savannah and Upper West enclaves.

However, he admitted there were concerns over the pace of work on some stretches and warned contractors against delaying projects.

“We are not going to sit down for anybody to take jobs and not do it,” he cautioned.

The Minister issued a direct appeal to contractors who abandoned projects before the change of government to immediately return to site, assuring them that the current administration was committed to honouring payment obligations.

“I want to encourage all those contractors who got projects before President Mahama came. He is encouraging you not to be scared that when you work, you will not be paid,” he said.

He further disclosed that government had identified seven additional critical feeder roads in the Savannah Region for rehabilitation under a new infrastructure arrangement expected to commence next month.

The Roads Minister linked deteriorating road conditions to rising insecurity and road accidents on highways, arguing that pothole-ridden roads force drivers into dangerous manoeuvres.

“Part of the insecurity on our roads is actually the nature of the road. When the road has so many potholes, drivers cannot drive at a consistent pace,” he explained.

Also addressing the gathering, the Minister for the Interior, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, assured residents that government was intensifying efforts to improve highway safety and reduce armed robbery incidents on major roads.

“As you know, we are writing a wonderful signature on most of our long straight roads,” he remarked in reference to highway robberies, adding that the Inspector-General of Police and his team were implementing new security measures to make highways safer.

“We want to believe our highways will be much safer than they were before,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Agbodza revealed that the government had introduced stricter monitoring systems to track the performance of contractors nationwide, including direct public feedback mechanisms that allow residents to report inactive contractors and stalled projects.

According to him, the administration currently has over 2,000 kilometres of roads under construction across the country.

He urged citizens, especially young people, to actively monitor projects in their communities and report delays or inactivity to government.

“Tell us what is happening on projects in your community so that together President Mahama will go down on record as the person who made the biggest intervention on our roads,” he appealed.

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Addressing residents during his “Resetting Ghana” tour in the Savannah Region, President Mahama said national poverty surveys continue to show that the five northern regions remain among the poorest areas in the country, despite constitutional provisions requiring equitable national development.

According to him, the imbalance in development opportunities between northern and southern Ghana has created a dangerous socio-economic trend in which people migrate from deprived regions in search of jobs and better living conditions elsewhere.

“If we have a situation where a certain part of the country is richer and has more opportunities, then what happens is you have migration from the poorer parts of the country to the other parts where there are opportunities,” the President stated.

He explained that the resulting population movement places enormous strain on housing, healthcare, roads, schools and other public infrastructure in urban centres already struggling with rapid expansion.

“And when that happens, it means that there’s pressure on social services and infrastructure in the areas that are more endowed,” he added.

President Mahama argued that balanced national development was not merely a constitutional obligation, but also an economic necessity to prevent widening inequality and demographic pressure on cities.

“That’s why every country tries to achieve balanced development,” he stressed, adding that poorer regions must receive targeted interventions to close development gaps.

The President identified the Savannah Region as one of the areas requiring urgent state attention and outlined a series of infrastructure and social investment projects his administration is undertaking to improve living conditions and reduce outward migration.

Among the flagship interventions announced was the establishment of a Science and Technology University in the Savannah Region to expand access to higher education and create opportunities for young people within the area.

President Mahama disclosed that the Chinese government had already provided a $30 million grant for the commencement of the university project, while Ghana had applied to the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) for an additional $100 million to support the construction of the campus.

“Savannah Region is going to get a new university dedicated to science and technology,” he announced.

The President also revealed plans for a 300-bed Savannah Regional Hospital, expected to serve as a referral centre for district hospitals across the region.

According to him, the facility would be equipped with modern medical infrastructure, including CT scan, MRI and X-ray facilities, to improve healthcare delivery and reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for specialised treatment.

In the area of water supply, President Mahama announced that government was finalising processes to commence the Damongo Water Project, which will draw water from Yapei and supply several communities including Busunu, Damongo, Larabanga and the Mole enclave.

He further indicated that Savannah Region would benefit from ongoing road projects under Phase Two of the government’s “Big Push” infrastructure programme, while additional investments in electrification were expected to increase the region’s electricity coverage from the current 68% closer to the national average of nearly 90%.

The President disclosed that 172 communities in the region had already been earmarked for electrification under Phase One of the programme, with solar-powered solutions planned for remote communities beyond the national grid.

President Mahama maintained that such investments were necessary not only to improve living standards in deprived regions, but also to stem the tide of migration that continues to widen the development divide between northern and southern Ghana.

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Addressing residents and stakeholders in the Savannah Region during his nationwide “Resetting Ghana” tour, President Mahama said the country’s economic turnaround was evident in falling inflation, stable exchange rates, rising foreign reserves and rapid expansion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to him, Ghana’s economy, which stood at approximately $80 billion when his administration assumed office, has now grown to $114 billion.

“Today, as I speak with you, Ghana has moved from number 11 biggest economy in Africa to the 8th biggest economy in Africa,” he announced to applause from the gathering.

The President attributed the growth to what he described as prudent economic management and strict fiscal discipline introduced after inheriting an economy that was struggling under an IMF-supported programme.

He disclosed that inflation, which previously reacted sharply to external shocks, had remained relatively stable despite recent global economic pressures.

“We have achieved macro-economic stability. Inflation came down to 3.2% and recently rose marginally to 3.4% because of external factors, but that is a sign of a resilient economy,” he stated.

President Mahama further revealed that Ghana’s foreign reserves had risen to $13.9 billion, enough to cover 5.7 months of imports, with government now targeting reserves capable of supporting up to 15 months of imports to shield the country from future external shocks.

On Ghana’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the President said his administration had succeeded in restoring confidence in the programme after it had veered off-track before the change of government.

He explained that stringent measures introduced by his government helped realign the programme, leading to successful reviews by successive IMF missions.

“The final mission just left Ghana last week and they have given us a satisfying mark for performance,” he said, adding that the IMF Board was expected to approve the release of the final tranche of $380 million.

However, President Mahama stressed that his administration would not celebrate Ghana’s exit from the bailout programme prematurely.

“We are not going to have a kinky party because we know that our economy still needs a lot of work,” he remarked, in what appeared to be a swipe at previous celebrations marking Ghana’s exit from earlier IMF arrangements.

Instead, he disclosed that government had agreed with the IMF to transition from the Extended Credit Facility to a Policy Coordination Instrument, under which Ghana and the IMF would continue periodic assessments of economic reforms and fiscal discipline without additional bailout support.

“It is my hope that this is the last time Ghana will go to the IMF for a bailout,” he declared.

President Mahama also highlighted growth in non-traditional exports, noting that earnings from the sector had increased from $3.83 billion to over $5 billion within a year.

He argued that the expansion of exports and the broader economy would create jobs and enable government to invest more heavily in education, agriculture, roads and local infrastructure.

The President further touted reforms in the disbursement of the District Assemblies Common Fund, stating that 80% of the allocations are now transferred directly to district assemblies in a timely manner, compared to barely 40% under the previous administration.

According to him, the increased releases are already driving visible development across the districts, including the construction of schools, CHPS compounds and 24-hour markets.

President Mahama said every one of Ghana’s 261 districts would receive a 24-hour economy market to stimulate local commerce and improve opportunities for farmers and traders.

“Markets are centres where money circulates among the people,” he noted, explaining that the initiative was intended to deepen economic activity at the grassroots level.

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In a statement posted on the Ministry’s official Facebook page on Friday, May 22, 2026, the Ministry described the allegations as “completely false, misleading and without any merit or basis whatsoever.”

The statement followed the arrest of some suspected illegal miners along the Ankobra River on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. According to the Ministry, the suspects alleged during interrogations that their activities were being aided by some National Security operatives within the Prestea enclave.

However, the Ministry said preliminary investigations conducted into the matter established that the claims were untrue.

“It has been observed that some illegal miners have now made a habit of making baseless claims against state institutions and security agencies in their attempts to evade accountability for their unlawful activities,” the statement said.

The Ministry further indicated that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) remains determined to apprehend and prosecute individuals masquerading as National Security operatives to facilitate illegal mining activities.

As government intensifies efforts to combat galamsey across the country, the Ministry commended the continued collaboration, resilience and commitment of National Security and other stakeholders in tackling the menace.

The statement was signed by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Paa Kwesi Schandorf.

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Speaking during a visit to Tamale in the Northern Region, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah revealed that he had strongly pushed for a reorganisation of the NDC’s parliamentary front despite opposition from the party’s 2024 presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama.

According to him, the party needed a new strategy and leadership structure in Parliament to strengthen its electoral chances against the governing party.

“We have to change the forward line of our leaders in Parliament otherwise it will be difficult to win the 2024 election,” he stated.

Mr. Asiedu Nketiah disclosed that when he first proposed the changes, Mr. Mahama disagreed with him. However, he insisted that as National Chairman, he had the responsibility to take bold decisions in the interest of the party.

“When I told John Mahama, he disagreed with me, but I told him I have been elected as chairman of the party and I am the GOAT of the party going into the 2024 election,” he said.

The NDC Chairman explained that the reshuffle was intended to reposition the party ahead of the elections and ensure a stronger political strategy.

“So let’s make the changes going into the election. When we win, we will all enjoy,” he added.The changes eventually saw senior parliamentary figures including Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mubarak stepping aside from their leadership positions to make way for a new parliamentary leadership team.

Defending the decision, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah likened politics to a football match, arguing that a coach must sometimes reorganise his squad to secure victory.

“Since I made that changes, I said Haruna, Muntaka step aside for new leadership and sit and watch. I am the GOAT and I must watch how our opponents are playing, so I have to arrange my team for us to go into the election and win,” he stressed.

He further touted the NDC’s performance in the 2024 elections, describing the party’s victory as unprecedented in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

“That victory NDC got in the 2024 election — have you seen some before in the Fourth Republic?” he quizzed supporters amid cheers.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah’s comments are expected to reignite debate within political circles over the NDC’s parliamentary reshuffle and the internal disagreements that preceded the party’s electoral campaign strategy.

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Addressing a press briefing, the IGP disclosed that police intelligence operations had led to the arrest of suspects connected to the murder of Nana Sewa Jankuma, Queenmother of Abamba, as well as a deadly armed robbery attack at a GB oil filling station near Atebubu.

According to him, the police over the past year had intensified intelligence-led operations across the country, targeting armed robbery gangs, narcotics networks, online fraud syndicates, child trafficking rings and other organised criminal groups.

He explained that with logistical and operational support from the government, several violent crime syndicates had been dismantled, leading to the retrieval of weapons and ammunition from criminal gangs.

The IGP noted that Atebubu, which had in recent times become a hotspot for criminal activity, was now under sustained police pressure through swoops and intelligence operations aimed at flushing out criminals from the area.

“Those who were daring enough to engage the police in shootouts received the appropriate response, while others fled the town,” he stated, adding that the operations would continue to ensure residents could conduct their daily activities without fear.

On the murder of the Abamba Queenmother, which occurred on February 25, 2026, the police chief revealed that investigations took a dramatic turn after police at Kasoa arrested suspects allegedly preparing to commit robbery.

During interrogation, one of the suspects, identified as Abdurazak Ibrahim Langa, alias Zak, reportedly confessed knowledge of the murder, claiming the “ghost” of the deceased queenmother had been tormenting him.

Further investigations identified Nana Yaw Bediako, alias Nana Yaw, as the alleged gunman who shot the queenmother. Police say he confessed to the crime and implicated Nana Osu Sankofi II, chief of Akonkwa, as the alleged mastermind behind the murder plot.

According to the IGP, the chief allegedly promised to pay GH¢50,000 for the assassination.

Police investigations subsequently led to the arrest of additional suspects, including Bukari Amadu, a driver, and another suspect identified as Daco, described as the Abakomahene of Akonkwa.

The IGP also disclosed that another suspect, Suley Yagani, currently serving a prison sentence at Nsawam Maximum Security Prison and temporarily held at Sunyani Central Prison pending an appeal, had been linked to the case.

On the May 2, 2026 armed robbery attack at the GB filling station, the police chief said eight suspects, including two women, had so far been arrested.

Three suspects – Adam Ademu, 27, Suley Amadu, 22, and Abdulai Ali, 45 – remain in police custody, while three others, Abdul Razak Osman, Nuhum Awudu and Dauda Issa, died during police operations.

The two female suspects, both nursing mothers, have been granted temporary police bail.

Preliminary investigations, according to the IGP, revealed that the alleged ringleader, Abdul Razak Osman, who operated within the area, contracted members of the gang to rob and kill the owner of the filling station.

Police said the gang monitored the owner’s movements and attacked after mistakenly believing he had entered the premises.

However, the intended target had reportedly left moments earlier. Realising they had missed him, the suspects allegedly opened fire indiscriminately, killing two persons and injuring two others.

The IGP assured the public that all suspects implicated in the crimes would be made to face the full rigours of the law.

He commended officers from the Police Intelligence Directorate, the Cybercrime and Enforcement Unit, the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit and the Bono East Regional Police Command for what he described as their dedication and sacrifice in pursuing the criminals.

He also expressed gratitude to members of the public who provided information that aided the investigations.

“To the criminals out there, watch out. We are coming for you,” the IGP warned.

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According to a statement posted on Facebook by journalist Erastus Asare Donkor, the NAIMOS task force swooped on a galamsey site at Oseikokrom in the Amansie West District on Thursday, 21 May 2026, in what the Secretariat described as an intelligence-led operation.

The Arrests

Upon sensing the approach of the task force, the suspects attempted to flee the site but were intercepted before they could escape. Eight individuals were arrested in total: one Chinese national and seven Ghanaian locals.

The arrested suspects were identified as:

1. Huang Weiye (Chinese National) — 38 years
2. Augustine Manu — 23 years
3. Kwame Ntoadro — 41 years
4. Moses Alou — 30 years
5. Alex Lenley — 32 years
6. Yaw Owusu — 26 years
7. Shaibu Wuni — 26 years
8. Patrick Bampoa — 22 years

Huang Weiye has since been conveyed to NAIMOS Headquarters for further investigations and subsequent handover to the Ghana Immigration Service, in line with standard procedure for foreign nationals implicated in illegal mining. The seven Ghanaian suspects were handed over to the Antoakrom Police Station for investigations and prosecution.

Equipment and Weapons Seized

The raid yielded a significant haul of equipment. Two Toyota Hilux pickups — registered GX 555-24 and CN 5168-26 — were seized at the site and transported to the NAIMOS logistics holding facility in Kumasi.

Operatives also found two excavators actively engaged in mining. One was seized and conveyed to the Kumasi holding area. The second, immobile due to an attached tracker that could not be deactivated, was immobilised on-site by task force personnel who detached its monitor and control board.

Additionally, a pump-action gun was recovered from the site — a detail that underscores the security risks routinely faced by anti-galamsey operatives in the field.

Task force personnel also set ablaze several makeshift structures that had served as hideouts for the illegal miners.

NAIMOS Signals Escalation of Operations

Speaking on the outcome of the raid, Colonel Dominic Buah, Director of Operations for NAIMOS, signalled that the Secretariat’s enforcement posture would not relent.

“The task forces would continue to intensify such surgical raids in all galamsey hotspots across the country,” he stated.

Colonel Buah further noted that the intensified operations and broader strategies being deployed by NAIMOS were yielding measurable results in disrupting entrenched illegal mining networks — networks he described as responsible for the destruction of cocoa farms, forest reserves, and road networks, as well as the severe pollution of the nation’s water bodies.

The Oseikokrom bust represents another data point in what NAIMOS is framing as a sustained, intelligence-driven campaign — one that is increasingly targeting the organised, often foreign-backed networks that underpin Ghana’s galamsey problem, rather than merely apprehending low-level site workers.

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In a strongly-worded statement read on his behalf by Madam Patricia Appiaggyei, his deputy, on the floor of Parliament yesterday, Afenyo-Markin said the government was increasingly consumed by internal political ambitions, while Ghanaians battle worsening economic and social hardships. The Effutu MP claimed the governing administration was losing focus barely sixteen months into its tenure.

Under the heading: “The Race to Replace the President: Who is Governing Ghana?”, the Minority Leader argued that senior government appointees had become preoccupied with positioning themselves for the 2028 presidential race, instead of addressing the country’s immediate challenges.

According to him, concerns over the early succession campaign had even emerged from within the Presidency itself. He cited an opinion article published in the Daily Graphic on May 5, 2026  by the President’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Callistus Mahama, titled “Before the Race Begins: A Call for Discipline, Reflection and Duty.”

Quoting portions of the article, Afenyo-Markin said the Executive Secretary warned that “barely a year and a half into this mandate, the conversation about succession in 2028 risks arriving before the foundations of recovery have even been firmly laid.”
He further quoted the article as describing the situation as “a quiet form of neglect,” adding that “the clock is not yet ticking toward succession; it is ticking toward delivery.”

The minority leader told Parliament that when a sitting President’s own Executive Secretary publicly appealed to government officials to stop campaigning and concentrate on governance, it reflected a government losing grip of its priorities.
“Ghana remains under an IMF programme. Debt restructuring is incomplete. Dumsor is back. Farmers are in distress. The people appointed to solve these problems are focused on replacing the man who appointed them,” he declared.

He subsequently called on President Mahama to “enforce real discipline” within his administration, insisting that ministers who could not separate governance from political ambition “should be asked to choose.”

Dumsor Returns
The Minority Leader also launched a fresh attack on the government over the return of erratic power supply, popularly known as dumsor. He alleged that communities across the country were once again experiencing prolonged and unpredictable outages despite campaign promises by the NDC to end the crisis.

According to him, businesses were losing money, hospitals were under pressure and students were being forced to study with candles in a country capable of generating its own electricity.

Afenyo-Markin claimed the economic losses from the outages were estimated at about $320 million annually in lost productivity.
He referenced the Akosombo Power Control Centre fire and the suspension of the GRIDCo Chief Executive Officer as warning signs that were allegedly ignored by the authorities. The Minority Leader demanded that the Energy Minister appear before Parliament with what he described as a “credible, costed and time-bound” plan to end load-shedding.

Athletics Championship Embarrassment
Turning to sports, Afenyo-Markin described Ghana’s hosting of the 24th African Senior Athletics Championships at the University of Ghana Stadium as an “international embarrassment.”

He accused the Sports Ministry of gross incompetence despite having nearly two years to prepare for the continental event. The Minority Leader cited reports of inadequate accommodation, poor feeding arrangements, transportation delays, malfunctioning timing systems and internet failures at the media centre.

According to him, Ghana’s image suffered severe reputational damage after complaints from participating athletes went viral across international media platforms. He linked the controversy directly to Ghana’s preparations for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, where the Black Stars are expected to face Panama, England and Croatia.

Afenyo-Markin questioned whether the same ministry that struggled to organise the athletics championship could adequately support the Black Stars on the global stage. “The level of incompetence that attended the African Athletics Championships must not manifest in Ghana’s World Cup campaign,” he warned.

The Minority Caucus therefore demanded a full parliamentary investigation into the athletics championship fiasco and insisted that the Minister for Youth and Sports appear before the full House to answer questions. The caucus also called for a written World Cup preparedness plan to be submitted to Parliament before the end of the month.

Ghanaians Abroad
On the safety of Ghanaians living abroad, the Minority Leader acknowledged steps taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning xenophobic attacks in South Africa, but maintained that government intervention came too late.

He credited sustained pressure from the Minority Caucus and his intervention at the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja for forcing urgency on the matter. Afenyo-Markin disclosed that the ECOWAS Parliament had directed its Committee on Political Affairs to investigate attacks on Ghanaians and other West Africans in South Africa following concerns he raised during proceedings.

He admitted that the Foreign Affairs Ministry had engaged South African authorities and initiated evacuation measures for affected Ghanaians, but argued that the government’s initial response lacked urgency.
The Minority Leader further called on government to establish a formal early warning and emergency response framework for protecting Ghanaians abroad.

He also demanded a comprehensive reintegration programme for returnees evacuated from South Africa.

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Addressing Parliament yesterday at the commencement of the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament, the Bawku Central MP said Ghana was witnessing one of the fastest economic recoveries in its history under President John Dramani Mahama.

In a speech laced with political jabs at the Minority, the majority leader accused the previous NPP administration of dragging the economy into collapse through reckless governance, but the current NDC government has managed to stabilise the situation within a short period.

He mocked the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, suggesting she was “rehearsing for her potential role as a running mate,” before declaring that the country had entered a period of “renewed hope and optimism.”

Fastest Economic Recovery
The Majority Leader relied heavily on comments made recently by policy analyst, Franklin Cudjoe, to support his defence of the government’s economic record.
Quoting the IMANI Africa President extensively on the floor of Parliament, Ayariga said even civil society had acknowledged that the Mahama administration had engineered “the fastest economic recovery in Ghana’s history.”

According to him, Ghana’s economic stabilisation had been achieved despite inheriting what he described as a “badly bruised, broken and marred” IMF programme from the previous administration.

He argued that the economic collapse experienced in 2022 was avoidable and blamed it on “regressive self-immolating policies of waste, mismanagement and plunder.”
Ayariga maintained that inflation was declining rapidly, debt levels were reducing and investor confidence was gradually returning under the current administration.

“What is the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI)? It is a non-financial advisory and monitoring tool provided by the IMF. It allows the country to design and implement its own economic reforms without receiving a financial bailout,” he explained.

He further described the transition from the IMF bailout programme to the PCI as a “masterstroke in economic diplomacy.” According to him, the government was determined to ensure Ghana would not quickly return to the IMF as had repeatedly happened under successive administrations since independence.

Defends Mahama Leadership
The Majority Leader praised President Mahama’s leadership style, insisting the President was personally invested in the details of governance. “The President reads every document handed to him, often correcting grammatical mistakes before signing the country up to the contents,” Ayariga stated.

He stressed that the economic gains being recorded were not propaganda from the NDC, but reflected objective assessments from independent voices. “This is civil society’s verdict on this government, not NDC praising itself,” he declared.

Press Freedom Gains
Ayariga also defended the government’s democratic credentials, citing Ghana’s improved ranking in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index. According to him, Ghana’s rise to the 39th position globally represented a “remarkable institutional redemption” under the Mahama administration.
He described the achievement as evidence of what he called a “profound democratic resurrection” under the NDC government.

“We have fiercely reclaimed our heritage as a vanguard of free expression,” he said.
The Majority Leader subsequently accused the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, of attacking the judiciary.

He cautioned politicians to remain consistent in their public comments regarding court decisions, stressing that democratic governance depended on respect for state institutions.
“I want to assure the judiciary that we on this side of the House have their backs covered,” he declared.

NPP Blamed For Economic Hardship
While admitting that Ghana still faced serious economic challenges, Ayariga argued that many of the problems were inherited from the previous administration.
He cited rising youth unemployment, infrastructure deficits and a struggling private sector as consequences of years of economic mismanagement.

“The last one and a half years of economic management establishes the point that our economy does not lack. Our economy has only suffered from decades of inefficiency, waste, graft and corruption,” he said.

He assured Ghanaians that the government’s proposed 24-hour economy policy would accelerate job creation following Ghana’s exit from the IMF bailout programme.
The Majority Leader further announced that Parliament would be handling an intensive legislative agenda during the session, including 48 bills and 26 statutory instruments.

Calls For Unity
Touching on the arrest of the MP for Asante Akyem North in the Netherlands, Ayariga urged Ghanaians to avoid prejudicial commentary and respect the principle of innocence until proven guilty.
He also called for cooperation between the Majority and Minority sides of Parliament, insisting national development could not be achieved through perpetual partisan conflict.

“History will judge this Ninth Parliament not by the volume of our arguments, but by our contribution to national progress,” he stated.

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