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Mobilise the funds as every gov’t has done to service our debts – Amin Adam to Mahama
Former Finance Minister Dr Mohammed Amin Adam has challenged President John Dramani Mahama’s concerns over Ghana’s debt service obligations, urging him to mobilise funds as every government has done in the past to meet these commitments.
Presenting what they call the “True State of the Nation Address” on Monday, March 3, Dr Amin Adam dismissed the President’s warning about the country’s projected debt servicing obligations, arguing that debt management is a routine responsibility of any administration.
President Mahama recently raised alarm over Ghana’s debt servicing obligations for the next four years, estimating that the government would need GH₵280 billion—comprising GH1₵50 billion for domestic debt and GH₵130 billion for external debt.
According to Dr Amin Adam, however, such obligations are not unusual and should not be used to instill fear in the public.
“The President tried to scare the Ghanaian people about the country’s debt service obligations for the next four years. Government at every time, provides for debt servicing obligations, and the President is aware of this. We expect him to mobilise the funds as every government in Ghana has done to service our debts,” he stated.
According to him, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) also did the same when the National Democratic Congress left power with debts in 2017.”
He further highlighted that the NPP administration’s debt management strategies had led to a significant reduction in Ghana’s debt levels and debt servicing burdens. “Through negotiations, Ghana successfully rescheduled its $5.4 billion debt owed to official bilateral creditors until after 2026.”
“The Agreement we reached with the Official Creditors Committee for Ghana entails a rescheduling of all debt service (principal & interest) falling due between December 20, 2023, and December 31, 2026. As a result, no debt service under bilateral debt will be paid until after 2026, including the debt we didn’t pay in 2023 since we declared the debt standstill.”
Dr Amin Adam further outlined the terms of the rescheduling, noting that the deferred amounts would be repaid in two installments—16 and 17 years after their original due dates—with interest rates ranging between 1% and 3%.
He stressed that this agreement applies to all official bilateral creditors and ECA-backed facilities signed and disbursed before the end of 2022.
“This provides breathing space for the current government,” he emphasised, adding that the debt service relief from these negotiations amounts to $2.8 billion.This is money that the government of Ghana would have paid but which now stands as savings to the country,” he added.
Dr Amin Adam urged President Mahama to focus on effective economic management rather than stirring fear about debt obligations that governments must automatically address.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the commencement of enforcement of the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2523), warning institutions that fail to comply with the new requirements of possible fines of up to 2,000 penalty units.
The Authority says it will deploy a Biometric Verification Implementation Task Force to inspect institutions and ensure they comply with the regulations, following the expiration of a three-month grace period granted to businesses and public institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, November 2, 2026, the NIA’s Corporate Affairs representative, William Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, said the Authority had completed its public education and stakeholder engagement activities and was now moving into the enforcement and compliance monitoring phase.
He explained that the regulations require institutions that verify the identities of customers or applicants as part of their operations to use the NIA’s approved biometric verification platform instead of relying solely on visual inspection of the Ghana Card.
Under the new rules, institutions are prohibited from photocopying, scanning or keeping copies of the Ghana Card for identity verification purposes.
Mr Darlas stressed that simply collecting a customer’s Ghana Card, looking at the photograph and comparing it with the person presenting it would no longer be accepted as a valid method of identity verification.
He, however, clarified that the Ghana Card remains the country’s official national identity document and that citizens are not required to register for a new card or capture their biometrics again under the new regulations.
He said the new system is intended to reduce identity fraud, impersonation and other crimes by ensuring that the person presenting the Ghana Card is the actual owner.
According to him, the biometric verification process will rely on information already captured during Ghana Card registration, including fingerprints, iris details and facial features stored in the card’s chip.
Mr Darlas warned institutions against using third-party companies or individuals to access the NIA’s identity verification platform, insisting that the Authority does not work with intermediaries.
He said institutions seeking access to the National Identity Register must deal directly with the NIA and complete its official onboarding process.
The process requires institutions to prove that they are legally registered companies in Ghana, obtain certification from the Data Protection Commission and work with the NIA’s technical team to establish the necessary connection to its platform.
He further cautioned institutions already connected to the platform against subletting their access to other businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
He disclosed that the Authority had received reports of some institutions providing their verification services to other businesses without the NIA’s approval and warned that those involved would face legal action.
Mr Darlas said organisations that fail to comply with L.I. 2523 could face fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units, depending on the nature of the offence.
He explained that the NIA does not have the authority to impose the fines directly but would take offenders to court for the appropriate punishment.
He indicated that Institutions found guilty could also face additional administrative measures, including being barred from accessing the NIA’s verification platform in the future.
The NIA representative further clarified that the new regulations do not prohibit all institutions from physically using the Ghana Card during transactions.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, Nana Kwesi Boatey, has revealed how he transformed a major overstaffing challenge into a success story through the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, November 2, Mr. Boatey disclosed that when he assumed office in February 2025, and inherited a bloated workforce of 250 employees doing work that could be efficiently handled by 150 people, a situation that created serious liquidity challenges for the state-owned company.
Instead of resorting to downsizing, he adopted an innovative approach by instituting a 24-hour operational system.
Under the new system, staff were redistributed across three shifts: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
This not only ensured optimal use of labour but also maximized machine utilization and improved overall output.
According to him, the single move redefined the productivity culture within the company, reinforcing discipline, accountability, and efficiency.
The Ghana Publishing Company’s turnaround is being cited as a practical example of how the 24-Hour Economy policy can drive growth without job losses.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
