The Minority in Parliament has delivered a scathing assessment of President John Dramani Mahama’s first year in office, accusing his administration of economic mismanagement, weakened security, poor governance, and lack of accountability.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, January 8, 2026, to mark one year of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, the Minority said the administration has failed to deliver the “reset” it promised Ghanaians, arguing instead that the country has experienced a “relapse” into past governance failures.
While government officials have touted improved macroeconomic indicators such as six per cent GDP growth, falling inflation and a more than 40 per cent appreciation of the cedi, the Minority argued that these gains were misleading and unsustainable.
According to the group, much of the economic recovery began before President Mahama returned to power, driven by an IMF programme and fiscal consolidation measures implemented by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, as well as favourable global gold prices.
They warned that the sharp appreciation of the cedi risks hurting exporters, farmers and manufacturers, insisting that the government is prioritising “optics over sustainability.”
Central to the Minority’s criticism was what it described as a $214 million loss under the Gold-for-Reserves programme within nine months. The group said the losses, cited in an IMF report, represent funds that could have been used to support health care, education and agriculture.
The Minority maintained that although the Gold-for-Reserves initiative was originally conceptualised and implemented by the NPP, it was stable and profitable until the Mahama administration took over and allegedly politicised and expanded it without adequate safeguards.
They accused the newly established GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana of misrepresenting the programme’s performance by highlighting fee income while failing to account for trading losses identified by the IMF. The Minority further alleged that excessive off-taker fees contributed significantly to the losses and demanded full disclosure of contracts and transactions.
The group also raised concerns about the role of Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama, questioning the central bank’s oversight of the programme and accusing it of defending the losses rather than investigating them.
Beyond economic issues, the Minority criticised the government’s handling of agriculture, claiming that farmers have been neglected. They cited cases of rice and tomato farmers whose produce reportedly rotted due to a lack of storage and processing support, while imports surged as a result of the stronger cedi.
On illegal mining, or galamsey, the Minority accused the government of failing to take decisive action despite public commitments, warning that water bodies, farmlands and forest reserves continue to suffer degradation. They described the situation as a betrayal of public trust.
The Minority also expressed alarm over what it described as worsening insecurity, pointing to rising cases of armed robbery, murder, kidnapping, communal clashes and illicit arms proliferation. They said the situation has left many citizens living in fear and called for a comprehensive national security strategy.
On employment, the group accused the government of breaking its promise of a 24-hour economy, citing persistent unemployment and reported dismissals of public sector workers. They also called for transparency into investigations surrounding a deadly stampede at a recruitment exercise at El Wak Stadium.
The Minority further criticised what it described as selective accountability under the government’s anti-corruption drive, arguing that current officials are shielded from scrutiny while former appointees are targeted.
As part of its demands, the Minority called on Parliament to establish bipartisan select committees to investigate the $214 million loss under the Gold-for-Reserves programme. They urged Parliament to subpoena all off-taker contracts and require GoldBod and Bank of Ghana officials to testify under oath.
“We will not relent in demanding accountability,” the Minority said, insisting that Ghana must be placed on a path of transparency, fairness and constitutional governance.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
