Minority demands parliamentary oversight of key gov’t initiatives

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has criticised the government for failing to present essential documents on several flagship programmes to Parliament for scrutiny and approval.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Parliament’s third meeting, he highlighted that major initiatives, such as the 24-Hour Economy and Feed Ghana, are moving forward without undergoing the necessary parliamentary oversight.

“The 24-Hour Economy programme, the 1 Million Codes initiative, the Agro-Agri-Food Economic Transformation plan, the labour export programme announced by the President, and the National Apprenticeship Programme, to name a few, have not been reviewed by Parliament,” he said.

Afenyo-Markin emphasised that the executive branch is required to submit such programme documents to Parliament, especially since these initiatives are expected to rely on public funds approved by the legislature.

He warned that bypassing this process undermines transparency and weakens oversight.

“We cannot talk about oversight when the government fails to lay basic programme documents before Parliament. It is essential that these documents are submitted to ensure proper scrutiny,” he stressed.

He cited specific examples such as the Feed Ghana programme launched in April 2025 to modernise agriculture and create jobs, and the Big Push infrastructure initiative, a $10 billion plan set for September 2025 to boost national connectivity.

Despite their announcement, Afenyo-Markin noted that none of these programmes have been backed by formal documentation for legislative review.

He also criticised the handling of the much-publicised 24-Hour Economy initiative, pointing out that while it was highlighted in the President’s State of the Nation Address, it was noticeably absent from the 2025 national budget.

“The Finance Minister, in presenting the 2025 budget, made no mention of the 24-Hour Economy programme,” he added.

The Minority Caucus says it will continue to demand accountability from the executive, insisting that all programme documents must be submitted to Parliament to ensure transparency, fairness, and effective implementation.

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