Friday’s State of the Nation Address by President John Dramani Mahama set the stage for an intense debate in Ghana’s Parliament, as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle offered sharply contrasting reactions.
In the corridors of Parliament, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, spoke with enthusiasm to the Class Media Group. He praised the administration’s achievements, citing what he described as clear progress in stabilising the economy under President Mahama’s leadership. Mr. Ofosu Kwakye highlighted a reported 2.1 percent reduction in Ghana’s debt stock, a firmer cedi, and easing inflation. “All those indicators have changed.
The country’s debts have reduced by 2.1 percent, and the cedi exchange rate is more stable. Prices are falling,” he asserted, crediting sound policies and prudent management for these advances. He also drew attention to government investments in education, insisting such interventions are making a real difference in the lives of ordinary Ghanaians.
Yet not all were convinced. From the opposition benches, Akuapim North MP Sammy Awuku offered a starkly different perspective. In his remarks, Mr. Awuku dismissed the President’s address as a list of unfulfilled promises and missed targets. He questioned the gap between government assurances and everyday experiences, pointing to a recent hike in electricity tariffs as evidence that citizens are not feeling the relief promised by the administration. “Households and businesses continue to face rising costs,” he lamented.
Mr. Awuku further challenged the government’s track record, claiming that only 38 percent of stated commitments have been honoured. He criticised the lack of concrete updates on major initiatives, such as the construction of fish landing sites meant to bolster coastal communities. Doubts were also cast on the government’s reported creation of one million jobs, with Mr. Awuku demanding credible data to support the claim and warning that youth unemployment remains an urgent issue.
He called for greater transparency and accountability, urging the Mahama administration to deliver measurable outcomes and clear timelines for progress, rather than relying on repeated assurances. As the dust settles on President Mahama’s latest address, the divide in Parliament highlights the ongoing contest over Ghana’s economic direction and the lived realities of its citizens.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com