Cape coast: Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ranking Member of Parliament's Committee on Economy and Development, has made an urgent call on the government to submit to Parliament all program documents for thorough auditing and effective oversight. He noted that the government had launched some 11 programs so far, including Big Push, 24-Hour Economy, and Feed Ghana but had failed to make the policy documents available to Parliament despite persistent requests, handicapping parliamentary oversight.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Nkrumah emphasized the importance of making these documents available to allow faculty members, lecturers, and professors to interrogate and assess whether these programs can deliver the promised growth, jobs, and transformation. He expressed concern that without the actual programs, everyone struggles to understand the government's plans, stating that only the government claims 800,000 jobs will be created from unseen programs.
Mr Nkrumah, the Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, made the call during a roundtable on the 2026 budget statement organized by the Department of Data Science and Economic Policy, School of Economics, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape Coast (UCC). The event, themed 'From macro-stability to inclusive prosperity: Data-driven strategies for implementing Ghana's 2026 budget,' brought together politicians, academia, and industry to discuss the budget's promises and shortfalls.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah also called for parliamentary performance hearings on various government programs and interventions to ascertain their outcomes and ensure value for money. He stressed the need for accountability beyond the Public Accounts Committee, focusing on the outcomes of funds allocated for programs like Planting for Food and Jobs.
He advocated for the automation and regular publication of institutional data, particularly fiscal data, to foster transparency and accountability. He urged parliamentarians to tone down excessive partisanship and approach issues more technically and nationalistically to foster credibility.
Dr Sharif Khalid, Economic Advisor to the Vice President, highlighted the government's achievements in stabilizing the economy through innovative interventions. He pointed to programs like Goldbod and the 'Big Push' as key drivers of macroeconomic stability and job creation. Dr Khalid also emphasized the importance of building trust in the financial system to encourage private sector investment.
Dr William Brafu-Insaidoo and Dr Raymond E. Kofinti provided insights into the alignment of the budget with national and international development goals. They discussed the challenges of revenue generation and the need for sustainable ways to mobilize resources. Mr Courage Boti, representing the industry, called for a stable environment for private capital investment and emphasized the need for government support in creating favorable conditions for investment.
The roundtable highlighted the ongoing challenges of inequality, poverty, and unemployment in Ghana. It underscored the necessity for clear strategies to create jobs, reduce inequalities, and improve livelihoods. Professor Daniel Agyapong, in a statement, stressed the importance of ensuring that government policies align with national priorities and urged collaboration among government, academia, civil society, and the private sector.