Ghana Minute.
Wednesday, 7 October 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Wednesday, 7 October 2026
Accra—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Ghanaian press · Organization

Mahama administration

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.

2026-04-252026-10-07
Share on WhatsApp

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. July 2026

  2. Joy Online

    … He urged the Mahama administration to demonstrate consistency in enforcing accountability measures, saying Ghanaians expect all public officials to be held to the same standards regardless of political affiliation.

    NDC has abandoned the accountability standards it once championed – Afenyo-Markin

  3. Joy Online

    Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has suggested that a future New Patriotic Party (NPP) government would reverse the tribunals system being introduced by the Mahama administration, arguing that the move disrupts Ghana’s existing judicial structure. …

    NPP would reverse Mahama administration’s tribunals system if elected – Afenyo-Markin

  4. Joy Online

    Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has suggested that a future New Patriotic Party (NPP) government would reverse the tribunals system being introduced by the Mahama administration, arguing that the move disrupts Ghana’s existing judicial structure. …

    NPP would reverse Mahama administration’s tribunals system if elected – Afenyo-Markin

  5. Joy Online

    … The policy framework is expected to build on recent fiscal reforms and the economic recovery programme implemented by the Mahama administration. …

    Finance Minister Ato Forson set to present Mid-year Budget Review next week

  6. Joy Online

    … ndi, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has criticised the government’s response to recent flooding, questioning why authorities waited until lives were lost and businesses destroyed before embarking on what he described as a “clean-up charade.” Mr Mercer has accused the Mahama administration …

    Why wait for deaths and losses before a clean-up charade? – Egyapa Mercer questions gov’t

  7. Joy Online

    … Mr Amissah said the Mahama administration, after taking office in 2025, reviewed several loan-funded projects and found spending patterns that raised concerns. …

    Finance Ministry flags $4.2m in unretired GARID Funds under Akufo-Addo government

  8. Joy Online

    … He said the Mahama administration uncovered several cases in which borrowed funds had been used inappropriately after assuming office in 2025. …

    $65m flood protection cash was diverted to Covid under Akufo-Addo – Finance Ministry

  9. Joy Online

    … He claimed the Mahama administration found worrying spending patterns when it assumed office in 2025. …

    ‘There has been no delay’ – Finance Ministry rejects claims over GARID funding

  10. Joy Online

    … He reiterated the Mahama administration’s commitment to restoring affected communities and supporting displaced families. …

    Flood relief to reach other regions starting tomorrow July 4 – Kwakye Ofosu

  11. Joy Online

    The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has criticised the Mahama administration for its handling of recurring flood disasters. …

    You can’t trade lives for fiscal discipline – Oppong Nkrumah blasts government over flood deaths
Politics

Mahama government scraps five taxes to ease burden on Ghanaians

The News

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.

5 October 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Monday 5 October

  1. Mahama government scraps five taxes to ease burden on Ghanaians

    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.

    5 October 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

  2. National Cathedral site returned to government pending audit review

    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.

    5 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 3 October

  1. Bawumia accuses Mahama government of unfulfilled cocoa and public sector promises

    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.

    3 October 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Bawumia accuses Mahama administration of broken campaign promises

    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.

    3 October 2026 · The Chronicle →

Thursday 24 September

  1. Ghanaians abroad protest nurse arrest at UN headquarters

    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.

    24 September 2026 · Daily Guide →

Tuesday 22 September

  1. Mahama administration denies clamping down on free speech

    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.

    22 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 15 September

  1. Government revises border security meeting invitations after MP criticism

    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.

    15 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 11 September

  1. Iddrisu questions Adutwum's offer to advise on education

    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.

    11 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 10 September

  1. Mahama administration can fix local government within remaining 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.

    10 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 9 September

  1. More students benefited under Mahama than previous 20 years combined

    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.

    9 September 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Afenyo-Markin calls national dialogue on education exam outcomes

    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.

    9 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 28 August

  1. Shatta Wale says no Mahama appointee deserves special praise

    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.

    28 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 26 August

  1. Ghana government declines MTN's GH¢20 million South Africa aid donation

    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.

    26 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

  2. Ghana government declines MTN's GH¢20m donation for xenophobia victims

    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.

    26 August 2026 · Daily Guide →

Wednesday 19 August

  1. MP slams government over Alima Mahama audit refund demand

    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.

    19 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 10 August

  1. NDC Spain Chapter praises Ablakwa, Ato Forson, Mutawakilu

    The Spain Chapter of the National Democratic Congress has commended Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, and Ghana Water Limited Managing Director Adam Mutawakilu for their contributions to improving Ghanaians' lives, with particular praise for Ablakwa's responsiveness to diaspora welfare and consular service reforms.

    10 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 6 August

  1. NPP petitions Supreme Court and presidency over arrest concerns

    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.

    6 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 5 August

  1. Parliament must scrutinise new IMF Policy Coordination Instrument

    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.

    5 August 2026 · The Chronicle →

Monday 3 August

  1. Deputy Energy Minister endorses nuclear energy investment for Ghana

    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.

    3 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 31 July

  1. Government endorses constitutional reforms including five-year presidential term

    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.

    31 July 2026 · The Chronicle →

Thursday 30 July

  1. Fiscal discipline not absence of spending, says Majority MP

    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.

    30 July 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Minority accustomed to reckless spending, Agbana says

    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.

    30 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 23 July

  1. Finance Minister credits reforms for Ghana's economic recovery

    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.

    23 July 2026 · Daily Guide →

  2. Majority Leader backs Finance Minister's Mid-Year Budget Review

    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.

    23 July 2026 · Joy Online →

  3. Finance Minister touts economic recovery in 2026 mid-year review

    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.

    23 July 2026 · Joy Online →

  4. Gold Board generated $15 billion forex inflows, Finance Minister says

    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.

    23 July 2026 · Joy Online →

  5. Government reduced ministers from 123 to 60

    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.

    23 July 2026 · Joy Online →

  6. Finance Minister attributes Ghana's economic recovery to policy decisions

    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.

    23 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 22 July

  1. Minority says economy driven by gold prices, not policy

    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.

    22 July 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Joy FM to assess Mahama admin's tourism and culture performance

    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.

    22 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Mahama administration — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute