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Oppong Nkrumah slams Government for withholding details on 11 flagship programmes
The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has criticised the government for failing to submit programme documents on 11 major national initiatives, including the 24-Hour Economy.
According to him, the government’s failure to present detailed documents on these flagship projects undermines parliamentary oversight and accountability.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said although the government lists these programmes in the national budget and allocates huge sums of money to them, Parliament and the public have not seen any clear plans showing how the initiatives will be implemented or monitored.
“The big economic policy that is submitted just mentions these programs that we’ll do a One Million Coders Program aimed at training one million people for digital skills. People will say ‘hear hear.’ A figure is put by it, the minister defends it at the committee level, and it’s approved. But that doesn’t mean that the programme document has been brought to Parliament or published,” he explained.
The Ofoase Ayirebi MP listed 11 programmes that have so far not been backed by any official documents. These include the One Million Coders, 24-Hour Economy , Jobs Export, Adwumawura, National Apprenticeship, Tree for Life, Accra Research , One Child One Tree Initiative, Ghana Infrastructure Plan, Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities, and the No Fee Stress Programmes.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said it is worrying that millions of cedis are being disbursed for these projects even though there is no publicly available information on their goals, selection criteria, or performance indicators.
“How does the media, civil society, or even the general public know the details or how to access these programmes?” he questioned.
He revealed that his information suggests the issue has already been discussed at Cabinet level, and that the President has instructed ministers to submit the necessary documents to Parliament.
“The programme documents need to come so that Parliament can properly perform its oversight role,” he stressed.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The 24 Hour Economy Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hunan Architectural Design Institute Group to support the planning of the Volta Economic Corridor.
The agreement aims to guide how land within the corridor will be used, design key infrastructure, and develop systems that will support large scale production.
The partnership will focus on detailed planning to make the area ready for investment and smooth business operations.
The project will include the development of agroecological parks, industrial zones, and transport networks to connect production centres to markets.
According to the Authority, proper planning is critical to building strong economic systems and expanding production across the corridor.
It noted that the collaboration with the Chinese design firm will help lay a solid foundation for industrial growth and long term development within the Volta Economic Corridor.
By: Jacob Aggrey
President of the Ghana Bar Association, Efua Ghartey, has called on judges and lawyers to carry out their duties with humility, fairness, and a strong sense of responsibility.
She made the appeal during the Supreme Court at 150 celebration held at the University of Ghana, under the theme “Honouring the past, celebrating the present and defining the future.”
Addressing participants, she noted that those in the legal profession occupy positions of great power and influence, and must therefore remain humble in the discharge of their duties.
She urged both the bench and the bar to deliver justice without fear or ill will, stressing the need for fairness in handling cases.
Reflecting on the significance of the celebration, she explained that the year 1876 marks not only the establishment of the Supreme Court but also the beginning of formally trained lawyers in the Gold Coast.
The GBA President questioned what Ghana would be without the rule of law, which is upheld by judges and lawyers, adding that the country could descend into a system where only the strongest survive if justice is not properly administered.
She further encouraged legal practitioners to reflect on their responsibilities and remain committed to upholding the rule of law for the benefit of all citizens.
By: Jacob Aggrey
