Minority Leader, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin has intensified his criticism of the John Mahama-led administration, accusing the government of lacking clarity, consistency and a coherent national development agenda.
According to Osahen, the administration has become “unfocused and disconnected” from the real needs of Ghanaians, just one year after assuming office.
Speaking in parliament yesterday to conclude the debate on the 2026 national budget and economic policy of the government, Afenyo-Markin said the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has failed to show leadership in areas such as social protection, environmental governance and public accountability.
The Minority Leader argued that the administration appears uncertain about its role and the expectations of Ghanaians, and that it appears clueless to most of the issue confronting the country.
He claimed that the government often makes bold promises publicly, but retreats from them when it is time for implementation.
According to him, this inconsistency has weakened public trust and raised concerns among ordinary citizens.
Afenyo-Markin issued a direct challenge to the Majority side, asking them to point to a single new social intervention programme, introduced since the Mahama administration took office in January 2025.
He argued that Ghana’s major social protection policies, such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Free SHS and the LEAP programme were introduced under previous administrations, yet the current government has not added anything substantial to support poor and vulnerable communities.
“Can they point to a single social intervention programme that they have initiated since January 2025? When Ghanaians mention Free SHS, they know who introduced it.
“When they mention health insurance, they know who championed it. But today, what new policy can the NDC claim as its own?”
He added that the cost-of-living crisis, high unemployment rates among young people and stalled social infrastructure projects have intensified public frustration, with no signs of relief programmes arriving soon.
Environmental Management Under Fire
Afenyo-Markin also turned his attention to the government’s handling of illegal mining (galamsey), which he described as “a national emergency that the current administration is treating casually.”
He accused the government of failing to tackle the destruction of water bodies, farmlands and forest reserves, claiming that decision makers at the highest levels were looking away while environmental damage worsens.
“Our rivers are turning brown. Our forests are disappearing. Our cocoa farms are being destroyed. Communities are being exposed to contamination. Yet, in these budgets, no bold, well-funded alternative livelihood programme is being initiated.”
According to him, the absence of well-financed livelihood alternatives has kept thousands of young people trapped in illegal mining activities, despite the environmental risks and long-term economic losses.
Gold Board Accused of Enabling Illegal Mining Activities
The Minority Leader further criticized the operations of the Gold Board, the institution responsible for gold purchases and regulation.
He argued that the Board has failed to distinguish between gold sourced legally and minerals obtained through illegal mining.
“The government has surrendered to galamsey activities. And let me be very clear—this government has become its enabler.
“When the Gold Board itself cannot differentiate between legally mined gold and galamsey gold, then the state is directly supporting the destruction.”
Osahen Afenyo-Markin said the Board’s lack of capacity and weak due diligence processes have created loopholes that illegal miners are exploiting to sell contaminated or illegally sourced gold into the formal supply chain.
Economic Outlook
On the economic front, Osahen Afenyo-Markin claimed that the government had “missed at least 50% of its budget targets,” described the 2026 budget as “growthless and jobless” and alleged a lack of social and environmental interventions.
If these claims were taken at face value, they would paint a worrying picture for Ghana’s economy.
A budget shortfall of that magnitude could imply fiscal stress, potentially leading to higher borrowing, reduced government expenditure on social services and infrastructure, and diminished investor confidence.
A growthless budget would risk reducing private sector activity, dampening consumption, and exacerbating unemployment, particularly among the youth.
Furthermore, neglecting environmental issues such as illegal mining could threaten long-term agricultural productivity and public health, while insufficient social interventions could limit inclusive growth and human capital development.
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