Mahama administration — Ghana's government under President John Dramani Mahama, has scrapped five taxes, reviewed national cathedral spending, and pursued constitutional reforms including extending presidential tenure to five years.
… According to him, the Mahama administration has adopted a prudent approach to public spending by prioritising investments that deliver value for money while ensuring the country’s finances remain on a sustainable path. …
… He argued that the Mahama administration has chosen a different path by exercising restraint in public expenditure while directing resources to priority sectors capable of driving economic growth and improving the livelihoods of Ghanaians. …
… Cassiel Ato Forson, says Ghana’s economic recovery has been driven by a deliberate programme of reforms implemented by the Mahama administration since assuming office in January 2025. …
… The Finance Minister attributed the improved investor confidence to what he described as prudent economic management and fiscal discipline under the Mahama administration. …
The Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, presented the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament on Thursday, July 23, highlighting what he described as strong signs of economic recovery under the Mahama administration. …
… The Ghana Gold Board has been one of the major economic interventions introduced by the Mahama administration, with government positioning it as a mechanism to formalise the small-scale gold sector and retain more value from Ghana’s gold exports.
… Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on Thursday, July 24, Dr Forson said the Mahama administration had cut the number of ministers from a peak of 123 under the previous government to 60. …
… Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on Thursday, July 23, Dr Forson said the Mahama administration acted quickly after assuming office in January 2025 to stabilise the economy and lay the foundation for long-term growth. …
The Minority in Parliament has accused the Mahama administration of presiding over what it describes as a “galamsey economy”, arguing that Ghana’s recent economic gains are being driven by soaring gold prices rather than broad-based growth. …
Questions about the Mahama administration’s performance in the tourism, culture and creative arts sectors over the past 20 months will take centre stage at the ninth edition of Joy FM’s Showbiz Roundtable, scheduled for Saturday, August 8. …
The Mahama administration's 2025 Budget removed the 1% Electronic Transfer Levy, 10% withholding tax on betting and lottery winnings, Emissions Levy, VAT on motor vehicle insurance, and 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed gold from small-scale miners, with Parliament passing repeal bills and President Mahama assenting in April 2025. The Executive Director of Taxpayers League Ghana says the removal has made mobile money transfers cheaper and eased burdens on businesses and motorists, though he cautioned that tax relief should not lead to revenue collapse and urged focus on broadening the tax base and closing loopholes.
The Mahama administration's 2025 Budget removed the 1% Electronic Transfer Levy, 10% withholding tax on betting and lottery winnings, Emissions Levy, VAT on motor vehicle insurance, and 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed gold from small-scale miners, with Parliament passing repeal bills and President Mahama assenting in April 2025. The Executive Director of Taxpayers League Ghana says the removal has made mobile money transfers cheaper and eased burdens on businesses and motorists, though he cautioned that tax relief should not lead to revenue collapse and urged focus on broadening the tax base and closing loopholes.
Ghana's government has taken back the National Cathedral site from the contractor and will hold it pending the Attorney-General's review of a forensic audit into expenditure on the project under the previous administration. The board of trustees of the National Cathedral has been dissolved.
NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia criticized the government's failure to deliver on its pledge to increase cocoa producer prices to GH¢6,500, as well as unfulfilled promises on automatic teacher and nurse posting, teacher licensure exam cancellation, and Menzgold customer compensation.
NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has accused the Mahama government of turning several campaign promises into "scams," citing failures on cocoa prices, automatic teacher and nurse posting, cancellation of teacher licensure examinations, and payments to collapsed financial institution customers. He also criticized the government's 24-hour economy initiative and questioned its abandonment of the Agenda 111 hospital programme.
Ghanaians living abroad demonstrated near UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday, September 23, protesting the arrest of Senior Nursing Officer Salomey Awity Bafoh, who was arrested in September 2026 for her alleged connection to the TikTok account "Ghana Jollof." The demonstrators are also demanding accountability from the Mahama administration over campaign promises and governance issues.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim said the Mahama administration is not suppressing free speech, though government may invoke existing criminal laws where it believes breaches have occurred. She acknowledged ongoing public debate over the use of criminal laws in dealing with speech offences and their implications for freedom of expression.
The government has adjusted the invitation list for a high-level meeting on border security and narcotics after Minority MP Sammi Awuku raised concerns about the absence of sector ministers from the original invitations. Awuku welcomed the adjustment, saying his advocacy was intended to promote accountability and ensure officials with direct political responsibility participate in addressing drug trafficking.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has questioned what advice he could seek from predecessor Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum on Ghana's education challenges, saying the current administration inherited an education sector facing infrastructure deficits, food shortages under Free SHS, and the burden of the double-track system introduced under Adutwum's tenure.
Minister for Local Government Mahama Ayariga said the administration has enough time to address challenges in Ghana's local government system, which he attributed mainly to organisational issues rather than inadequate resources. He plans to improve coordination among local authorities and strengthen leadership to enhance service delivery.
The Student Loan Trust Fund CEO says more students have benefited from government student support interventions under the Mahama administration than during the Fund's previous 20 years of existence, citing increased government prioritisation of tertiary education financing. The Fund has disbursed GH¢210 million in enhanced student loans to 59,300 students this year alone.
Ghana's Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin is demanding urgent national conversation on the education system, citing poor performance in recent WASSCE and BECE results—including 183,233 candidates who completed secondary school without a Core Mathematics credit and an English Language pass rate of 62.40%, the lowest in four years. He also flagged concerns about BECE placement irregularities, noting 54,985 candidates were initially denied automatic placement and reporting issues with misplaced students and overcrowded schools.
Ghanaian musician Shatta Wale has expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of President John Dramani Mahama's appointees, saying he cannot identify any minister or government official whose performance stands out, despite earlier expressing support for the President.
The Ghanaian government has respectfully declined MTN Ghana's offer of GH¢20 million to support victims of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, saying it has already made adequate provision for the evacuation and reintegration of affected Ghanaians.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected a GH¢20 million donation from MTN Ghana for Ghanaian victims of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, stating that government has made adequate provision for evacuations and reintegration of affected citizens.
Ranking Member Samuel Jinapor has accused the Mahama administration of bypassing due process in demanding former Ambassador Hajia Alima Mahama refund monies allegedly arising from a Special Audit Report on the Ghana Embassy in Washington D.C., arguing that the power to disallow and surcharge following an audit rests solely with the Auditor-General under Article 187 of the Constitution.
The New Patriotic Party presented petitions to the Supreme Court and Jubilee House accusing the Mahama administration of arbitrary arrests, intimidation of political opponents, and selective justice. The submission to Jubilee House was delayed after NPP objected to only a Presidential Staffer being designated to receive the petition, given the seniority of party representatives present.
The Minority in Parliament has called on the Mahama administration to fully brief Parliament on Ghana's new IMF engagement, arguing that the absence of fresh financing under the Policy Coordination Instrument does not absolve government of its responsibility to ensure transparency and parliamentary scrutiny of the arrangement.
Ghana's Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition backed calls for Ghana and African countries to invest in nuclear energy, citing benefits including clean air protection, high reliability and improved density. He spoke at the opening of the 60th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Power Utilities of Africa, hosted by the Volta River Authority in Accra.
The Mahama administration has endorsed sweeping constitutional reforms, including extending the President and Parliament's tenure from four to five years, electing all MMDCEs, capping ministers at 60, and separating the Attorney-General from the Ministry of Justice. The Constitution Review Committee proposed 206 reforms, and Cabinet has accepted the five-year term proposal, arguing the current electoral cycle limits effective governance.
Ketu North MP Eric Edem Agbana defended the government's expenditure programme during 2026 mid-year budget debate, arguing that fiscal discipline should not be mistaken for unwillingness to spend and that the Mahama administration is adopting prudent, strategic investments rather than excessive spending.
Ketu North MP Eric Edem Agbana has accused the Minority in Parliament of being accustomed to reckless public spending, arguing that this explains its criticism of the government's fiscal discipline during Wednesday's debate on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review. He contended that the Mahama administration's restraint in expenditure and focus on priority sectors reflects responsible fiscal policy, unlike the opposition's past experience in government.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson told Parliament that Ghana's economic recovery has been driven by deliberate reforms implemented since January 2025, including fiscal correction, tax modernisation, and complementary fiscal policies. The reforms have yielded a 5.5% reduction in primary expenditure, a 2.5% primary balance surplus, a debt-to-GDP ratio of 4.45%, inflation stabilized at 5.4%, and GDP growth of 6.0% in 2025.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga commended Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson's 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, saying it demonstrates the economy is recovering and assuring parliamentary support for related legislative measures. Dr Forson stated that improved investor confidence has led international capital markets to show renewed interest in Ghana, though government is not rushing to borrow.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson presented the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament, highlighting improved macroeconomic indicators including Ghana cedi stabilisation and a policy rate fall to 14 per cent. He attributed the economic recovery to deliberate government policy decisions and said lower interest rates will help businesses expand and create jobs.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson says the Ghana Gold Board generated an additional $15 billion in foreign exchange inflows to strengthen Ghana's reserves and support exchange rate stability. He told Parliament the policy improved Ghana's current account balance from a surplus of 1.9% in 2024 to 8.3% in 2025.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said President Mahama's administration cut the number of ministers from 123 under the previous government to 60, and reduced ministries from 30 to 23, as part of efforts to strengthen fiscal discipline and improve efficiency of government.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson told Parliament that Ghana's improving economic performance results from the Mahama administration's deliberate policy decisions and structural reforms since January 2025, rather than external support or previous programmes. He said the government took difficult measures to stabilise the economy and restore confidence after inheriting an economy requiring more than minor adjustments.
The Minority in Parliament has accused the Mahama administration of presiding over a "galamsey economy," arguing that Ghana's recent economic gains are being driven by soaring gold prices rather than deliberate economic policies or broad-based growth.
Joy FM's ninth Showbiz Roundtable will examine the Mahama administration's performance in tourism, culture and creative arts over the past 20 months, featuring a panel discussion on government commitments, policy implementation, and the creative economy's path forward. The four-hour programme airs live on Saturday, August 8, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Joy FM, Joy Prime and Joy News.