Ghana Minute.
Thursday, 30 July 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 30 July 2026
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Ghanaian press · Organization

Parliament

Also known as: Parliament of Ghana · House · the full House · the House · Minority side · Parliamentary Caucus on Population and Development · Parliamentary Select Committee on Health · Health Select Committee · the Legislature · House of Parliament

Ghana's legislative body that approves fiscal commitments, reviews budgets, and deliberates policy reforms including healthcare, cocoa sector, and environmental protections.

2026-04-242026-07-30

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. July 2026
  2. Joy Online

    Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, has maintained that Parliament cannot transfer the Attorney-General’s constitutionally mandated prosecutorial powers to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) through ordinary legislation.

    Parliament cannot transfer Attorney-General’s prosecutorial powers through legislation – Deputy AG
  3. Joy Online

    According to him, the Constitution unequivocally vests prosecutorial authority in the Attorney-General, making it impossible for Parliament to create an independent prosecutorial body through ordinary legislation alone.

    Constitution must be amended to create independent prosecutorial authority – Deputy AG
  4. Joy Online

    Parliament has been updated on the implementation of numerous government programmes.

    Mid-Year Budget Review: What happened to the GH¢40m promise to Ghana’s creative industry?
  5. Joy Online

    However, the Minority in Parliament has argued that the positive macroeconomic indicators do not fully reflect challenges such as reduced spending, delays in implementing flagship programmes and questions over government priorities.

    Mid-Year Budget Review: Deloitte Africa Executive calls for better revenue mobilisation and focused flagship programmes
  6. Joy Online

    Parliament is expected to adjourn sine die (indefinitely) on July 31, the Leader of Government Business, Mahama Ayariga, has stated.

    No Saturday sitting: Parliament to adjourn indefinitely on July 31
  7. Joy Online

    The Apinto Divisional Council is urging government, Parliament, the Minerals Commission and other stakeholders to consider its proposal, saying Ghana has an opportunity to establish a mining model that balances investor confidence with the interests of resource-owning communities

    Apinto chiefs demand equity stake in Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine as lease renewal talks continue
  8. Joy Online

    The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Works and Housing Committee, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, has questioned the Finance Minister’s explanation that a court order freezing Ghana’s constitutional contingency fund hindered the government’s response to recent flooding in Accra, descri

    Minority rejects finance minister’s claims of blocked GH¢350m flood relief fund
  9. Joy Online

    Earlier this week, Minority Members of Parliament appeared in black attire in Parliament to protest the sentence, while the party’s national leadership addressed a press conference, insisting that the judgment was unsupported by the evidence presented during the trial.

    Ashanti NPP mobilises supporters for solidarity visit to Wontumi at Nsawam Prison
  10. Joy Online

    Parliament has postponed debate on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to Tuesday, July 28, giving legislators additional time to study the fiscal policy document presented by the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.

    Parliament defers debate on the 2026 mid-year budget review to Tuesday
  11. Joy Online

    Members of Parliament, ministers of state, government officials and other dignitaries gathered in Parliament on Thursday, July 23, ahead of the presentation of the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.

    In Pictures: Scenes from Parliament during 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review
Politics

Speaker calls for permanent Parliament, civil society partnership

The News

Parliament Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has called for a permanent partnership between Parliament, academia and civil society organisations to strengthen evidence-based lawmaking and improve democratic governance. He said Parliament's legislative and oversight functions would be more effective if informed by independent research, policy analysis and citizens' lived experiences rather than solely official government submissions.

3 hours ago · Daily Guide

Today

  1. Speaker calls for permanent Parliament, civil society partnership

    Parliament Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has called for a permanent partnership between Parliament, academia and civil society organisations to strengthen evidence-based lawmaking and improve democratic governance. He said Parliament's legislative and oversight functions would be more effective if informed by independent research, policy analysis and citizens' lived experiences rather than solely official government submissions.

    3 hours ago · Daily Guide

  2. Ghana should adopt mandatory DNA testing at birth

    An opinion piece argues that Ghana should introduce a national policy making DNA testing mandatory for all newborns, framed as a public health intervention to identify genetic risks, hereditary diseases, and enable early preventive care and treatment, subject to ethical, legal, and data-protection safeguards.

    7 hours ago · Joy Online

  3. NPP MP questions government on job creation and delayed public sector payments

    Patrick Yaw Boamah, the NPP MP for Okaikwei Central, criticised the government's economic management during the Mid-Year Budget Review debate, questioning where the promised 800,000 jobs are and arguing that increased revenue collection must translate into better living conditions and timely payment of public-sector workers like doctors, nurses, and teachers.

    9 hours ago · Joy Online

  4. 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.

    9 hours ago · Joy Online

  5. NPP challenges Upper East Region exclusion from World Bank road project

    The NPP has called on the Government to explain why the Upper East Region was left out of the US$500 million Ghana Market Access and Connectivity Project, a World Bank-funded initiative to rehabilitate about 1,050 kilometres of feeder roads across 13 other regions to improve agricultural market access and reduce post-harvest losses.

    9 hours ago · Joy Online

  6. Judiciary to roll out electronic court processes from October 2026

    Ghana's Judiciary will introduce electronic filing, authentication and service of court processes from October 1, 2026, under the E-Justice Plus Agenda, with phased automation of courts nationwide beginning with the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie described the reforms as an institutional step to ensure access to justice is no longer constrained by geography or avoidable delay.

    10 hours ago · Joy Online

  7. Supreme Court affirms OSP prosecutorial powers but preserves AG oversight

    Ghana's Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act is constitutional and valid, confirming the OSP's prosecutorial authority. However, the court also held that the Attorney-General retains constitutional power to discontinue prosecutions initiated by the OSP.

    14 hours ago · The Chronicle

  8. Vice-President affirms government commitment to justice sector reforms

    Vice-President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening Ghana's justice sector as an investment in democratic future, stating that proposed constitutional reforms will be pursued in collaboration with the Judiciary, Parliament, academia and civil society. The Chief Justice also announced a major digital transformation of the Judiciary, with electronic filing, authentication and service of court processes to commence on October 1, 2026.

    14 hours ago · The Chronicle

Yesterday

  1. Government adopts six regulations to operationalise EPA Act 1124

    The government has announced six new regulations to facilitate implementation of the Environmental Protection Authority Act 2025, covering Environmental Assessment, Effluent Management, Air Quality, Ozone Protection, Petroleum Operations, and Certification of Air Conditioners. The EPA is training staff and stakeholders, and plans to recruit additional personnel and establish new district offices to strengthen environmental enforcement.

    18 hours ago · Joy Online

  2. Government plans phased nurse recruitment through 2026

    Ghana's Health Minister confirmed a phased recruitment plan for nurses, midwives, and health professionals; the 2021 batch is already reporting to duty stations, the 2022 batch will be recruited before end of 2026, and 16,000 health professionals are being recruited this year to address staffing gaps.

    18 hours ago · Joy Online

  3. Health Minister outlines standards for medical product storage and distribution

    The Health Minister says the government is implementing measures aligned with WHO guidelines to ensure safe storage and distribution of pharmaceutical and medical products. The FDA has established licensing guidelines and is strengthening compliance through training programmes for pharmacists, supply chain managers and logistics personnel.

    19 hours ago · Joy Online

  4. Government underspending on healthcare despite GH¢34.1bn budget

    Dr Kingsley Agyemang, Ranking Member on Parliament's Health Committee, claims the Mahama administration's 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review fails to show actual healthcare spending against the GH¢34.1 billion allocation, with only GH¢3.4 billion of GH¢11.2 billion earmarked for NHIS and Ghana Medical Trust Fund spent in the first half of the year.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  5. Supreme Court ruling preserves AG's prosecutorial oversight of OSP

    The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed a constitutional challenge to the Office of the Special Prosecutor's powers, preserving the Attorney General's constitutional authority over prosecutions. Barker-Vormawor says the ruling underscores the need for constitutional reforms to grant the OSP fuller independence, though it should not be seen as a setback for anti-corruption efforts.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  6. Minority warns government underfunding deepens Ghana health crisis

    Ghana's Parliamentary Minority accuses the government of failing to back healthcare promises with adequate resources, citing gaps exposed in the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review. The Minority warns that underinvestment in health, including reduced public health awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS and other diseases, weakens the foundation for economic growth and national development.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  7. Supreme Court affirms OSP independent prosecution power, AG retains termination authority

    Ghana's Supreme Court has ruled that the Office of the Special Prosecutor can independently investigate and prosecute corruption offences, but the Attorney-General retains constitutional power to discontinue such prosecutions through nolle prosequi. The seven-member panel rejected a challenge to the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act 2017, which grants the agency prosecutorial authority without prior Attorney-General approval.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  8. NDPC outlines coordination strategy for Ghana's urban policy

    The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission has outlined an implementation strategy for Ghana's Revised National Urban Policy (2026–2035), emphasizing strong institutional coordination, monitoring and accountability. The revised policy aims to make Ghana's cities and towns more liveable, resilient and productive, addressing gaps in coordination, implementation and monitoring identified from the previous 2012 National Urban Policy, which achieved about 50 per cent of its targets.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  9. Supreme Court affirms OSP's constitutional validity

    The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017, as consistent with the 1992 Constitution, while ruling that the Attorney-General retains constitutional power to discontinue OSP prosecutions.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  10. Ghanaian delegate elected Education Minister at Commonwealth Youth Parliament

    Titus Owusu Darko, Ghana's delegate to the 13th Commonwealth Youth Parliament in Sydney, has been elected Education Minister in the New Albion Parliament. He will lead debates on education policies and government positions on education sector issues during the parliamentary simulation.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  11. Sports Minister pledges government support to Black Queens at WAFCON

    Sports Minister Kofi Adams visited Ghana's Black Queens team in Morocco to deliver messages of encouragement from the Executive, Parliament, and Ministry on behalf of the nation ahead of their Women's Africa Cup of Nations Group C opener against Cape Verde.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  12. Parliament has not approved fiscal devices project, Oppong Nkrumah warns

    The Ranking Member on Parliament's Economy and Development Committee warned private sector partners that Parliament has not yet approved any specific company, contract amount, or implementation schedule for the government's fiscal electronic devices project. Oppong Nkrumah said the Minority opposed Parliament approving a multi-year commitment without critical details such as total cost, duration, contractor identity, and year-by-year fiscal impact.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  13. Parliament needs full details before approving multi-year tax deal

    Ranking Member Kojo Oppong Nkrumah warned that Parliament cannot approve multi-year financial commitments without disclosure of details such as total cost, duration, contractor, and yearly fiscal impact. The Minority opposed parliamentary approval for rollout of fiscal electronic devices because key information about the transaction was not provided.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  14. Minority rejects fiscal devices approval without cost details

    Parliament's Minority caucus rejected a request to approve a multi-year commitment for rolling out fiscal electronic devices, calling it a "blank cheque" because the government's request lacked information on project cost, timeline, contractor, and yearly financial impacts.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  15. Cocoa Board Reforms Bill threatens guaranteed farmer prices

    Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ranking Member on Parliament's Economy Committee, has warned that Ghana's cocoa farmers could lose the protection of guaranteed producer prices if the proposed Cocoa Board Reforms Bill is passed in its current form. The Minority has opposed fast-tracking the bill, arguing the cocoa sector is too important for major reforms without broad consultation with farmers and other stakeholders.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  16. Oppong Nkrumah warns cocoa pricing reform risks farmer welfare

    The Ofoase Ayirebi MP and Ranking Member on Parliament's Economy and Development Committee warned that the government's proposed cocoa pricing formula could leave farmers worse off by undermining the minimum guaranteed farm-gate price, and called for broad stakeholder consultation before Parliament rushes through Cocoa Board reforms.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  17. Parliament must consult farmers before passing Cocoa Bill, Oppong Nkrumah says

    The Ranking Member on Parliament's Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has urged Parliament not to fast-track the Cocoa Board Reforms Bill without proper stakeholder consultation, warning that the proposed pricing formula could harm cocoa farmers and the wider economy.

    29 July 2026 · Joy Online

  18. Apostle Safo's daughter dismisses brother's funeral cancellation claim

    Sarah Adwoa Safo, daughter of late Apostle Emeritus Professor Kwadwo Safo, has rejected claims by her brother Israel Kwadwo Safo (Akofena) that their father's funeral has been cancelled, saying he has no legal or traditional authority to do so and has not been involved in organising the final rites.

    29 July 2026 · The Chronicle

  19. Minority says 2026 budget review shows unfulfilled job promises

    Ghana's parliamentary minority has criticized the 2026 budget review, stating that government promises on job creation and economic policy are not aligned with implementation. The MP for Atiwa East noted a close to GH₵2 billion shortfall in total revenue and grants, citing weak domestic consumption and reduced VAT and excise duty collections.

    29 July 2026 · The Chronicle

Tuesday 28 July

  1. Government to issue position paper on constitutional review

    Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang announced that government will issue a position paper outlining its response to the Constitutional Review Committee's recommendations. The government is examining the committee's proposals and remains committed to a transparent process, with particular focus on reforms to the administration of justice.

    28 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Mid-year budget review analysis compares infrastructure spending

    An analysis compares Ghana's 2026 budget commitments against first-half 2026 reported figures from the mid-year fiscal policy review, examining infrastructure spending and other sectoral allocations with citations to both budget documents and their appendices.

    28 July 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Revenue growth must improve living standards, MP argues

    MP Patrick Yaw Boamah criticised the government's economic management, arguing that increased revenue must translate into improved conditions for citizens, including timely payment of public sector workers like doctors, nurses and teachers, and questioned why the government has not reported on its campaign promise to create 800,000 jobs.

    28 July 2026 · Joy Online

Parliament — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute