Osahen: No Money For Farmers, Yet Money For Jets

Parliament witnessed a sharp but substantive debate yesterday as the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, and the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, presented sharply contrasting assessments of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President John Dramani Mahama.

The debate followed the President’s address to Parliament on February 27, 2026 delivered in accordance with Article 67 of the Constitution of Ghana, which mandates the President to present a message on the state of the nation at the beginning of each session of Parliament.

While the Minority described the address as incomplete and overly rhetorical, the Majority defended it as a truthful account of a nation recovering from severe economic distress.

Delivering the Minority Caucus’ concluding remarks, Mr. Afenyo-Markin argued that the President’s nearly two-hour speech failed to provide what he described as a realistic account of the challenges confronting Ghanaians.

Quoting former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson on the importance of protecting minority rights in democratic governance, the Efutu MP said the opposition had a duty to interrogate government claims and present what he termed the “true state of the nation.”

According to him, several pressing national issues, including electricity tariff increases, unemployment challenges and the environmental damage caused by illegal mining were either inadequately addressed or omitted entirely from the President’s address.

Spending Priorities Questioned

A key point raised by the Minority Leader concerned what he described as the government’s spending priorities.

He questioned reports that government was considering acquiring a presidential jet while critical infrastructure projects such as hospitals remain unfinished.

“How can a government say it has no money to continue building hospitals, yet suddenly find money to purchase a private jet for the President?” he asked adding “No money for hospitals, no money for farmers, yet money for jets.”

According to Mr. Afenyo-Markin, such decisions risk undermining public confidence in government priorities.

The Minority Leader also challenged the government’s repeated reference to inherited economic difficulties from the previous administration led by the New Patriotic Party.

He argued that the current administration frequently attributes challenges to the past while claiming credit for improvements.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin maintained that some of the stabilisation measures currently yielding results were initiated by the previous government, particularly the decision to seek support from the International Monetary Fund.

He also claimed that certain policies currently promoted by government, such as the gold-for-oil initiative originated under the previous administration and were championed by former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.

Concerns over Farmers and Youth Employment

The Minority Leader further argued that farmers across several sectors were struggling due to limited market access and unfulfilled policy promises.

He cited cocoa farmers, rice producers and yam farmers as groups experiencing economic pressure.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin also raised concerns about the government’s artificial intelligence-driven recruitment system for security agencies, saying it had frustrated many young applicants.

According to him, unreliable internet access and technical challenges had created barriers for applicants in rural areas.

“Technology should work for the people and not become a barrier between them and opportunity,” he said, calling for a review of the system.

Majority Defends Government’s Record

Responding to the Minority’s criticisms, Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, rejected the suggestion that the President’s address failed to reflect the true state of the nation.

He argued that the government inherited a deeply troubled economy following Ghana’s 2022 sovereign debt default and had since taken difficult decisions to stabilise the country.

“On December 19, 2022, Ghana declared a debt default,” he told the House.

“We inherited an economy with inflation above 50 percent, depleted reserves and enormous energy sector debt.”

According to Mr. Mahama Ayariga, the government’s economic recovery programme has begun to produce measurable results.

The Majority Leader pointed to several macro-economic indicators, which he said demonstrate improvement in the economy.

He cited declining inflation rates, improved foreign reserves and currency appreciation as signs that Ghana’s economic fundamentals were strengthening.

Mr. Mahama Ayariga also noted that Ghana had honoured a €709 million Eurobond obligation ahead of schedule, which he said had contributed to improved international confidence in the country’s financial management.

“This is not a story of survival anymore, it is a story of revival,” he said.

The Majority also defended a number of government programmes highlighted in the President’s address.

These include the “No Fees Stress Initiative,” which he said has enabled more than 150,000 first-year university students to enrol without paying academic user fees, as well as the “Mahama Cares” programme designed to support treatment for chronic diseases.

He further cited the government’s 24-hour economy policy as a key initiative aimed at expanding productivity and job opportunities.

According to him, the policy seeks to extend economic activity beyond traditional working hours to increase employment and industrial output.

 

 

 

For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z

The post Osahen: No Money For Farmers, Yet Money For Jets appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.

Read Full Story