General News
COCOA FARMERS, MASSES and INVESTORS and Left Behind in Mahama’s February 2026 SONA
Over the past week, President John Dramani Mahama had a constitutional opportunity in his 2026 State of the Nation Address to inspire confidence, reengineer the national conversation and articulate a bold roadmap for Ghana’s economic recovery and growth. Instead, Mahama’s address felt more defensive than visionary. It was the usual speech so heavy on partisan self-congratulation and light on transformative direction.
A State of the Nation Address must rise above political applause lines. It must speak to our national realities like the anxieties of our hardworking cocoa farmers, the difficult calculations of investors, and the quiet frustrations of ordinary citizens on the ever rising electricity cost, among others. On that test, this address fell far short.
No mention of Land Reform and imposing a Maintenance Culture
Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of the address was the suggestion that reducing cocoa producer prices was necessary to avoid returning to an IMF programme. That argument may satisfy fiscal technocrats, but it does little to comfort the cocoa farmer whose livelihood already hangs in delicate balance.
It is trite, that cocoa farmers operate within a narrow margin of survival; contending with rising input costs, ageing farms, uncertain climate and volatile global prices. Asking our long suffering cocoa farmers to carry a nation’s burden without a clearly defined long-term productivity strategy reflects a troubling imbalance in national priorities. Fiscal discipline cannot become synonymous with shifting the burden onto those least able to bear it. What good then do farmers derive from state control if they must bear the brunt of bad times?
If agriculture is truly the backbone of the economy, then policy must treat farmers as partners in growth, not as shock absorbers for macroeconomic adjustment.
Equally concerning was the promise of increased taxation at a time when Ghana desperately needs more private capital in infrastructure, manufacturing and technology.
Indeed, taxation is not inherently problematic; irresponsibility is, in our case. Raising taxes without a parallel demonstration of expenditure discipline, regulatory certainty and institutional reform risks dampening investor confidence. Capital flows where policy is predictable and governance is credible. Without those assurances, higher taxes may yield short-term revenue but long-term stagnation.
Investment thrives on clarity and hence President Mahama in the last State of the Nation’s Address, missed a golden opportunity to indicate a comprehensive strategy for broadening the tax base through growth, rather than deepening it through pressure.
More disappointing still, was the absence of a serious assault on the structural weaknesses that continue to undermine Ghana’s democratic and economic architecture.
Indiscipline and corruption within public institutions, cronyism in appointments, selective enforcement of laws, and an uneven application of justice erode public trust. Investors do not merely examine tax rates; they assess the strength of institutions and the predictability of the rule of law. Citizens do not merely listen to government PR spewing out growth statistics; they evaluate fairness. Hence credible reform agenda must confront these issues directly. Silence, however polished, does not amount to reform.
On illegal mining; commonly known as galamsey, the pledges sounded familiar and hollow. Ghana has heard successive administrations promise decisive crackdowns while rivers turn poisonous and farmlands disappear.
This crisis we behold demands more than rhetoric. It requires institutional insulation from political interference, transparent enforcement mechanisms, technological surveillance, and the political courage to confront financiers and enablers at the highest levels.
Without a concrete framework, repeated assurances risk reinforcing public scepticism rather than restoring confidence.
A State of the Nation Address should be distinct from a campaign rally. It is a constitutional moment; a platform to level with citizens about challenges and to articulate a bold, measurable path forward. Ghana needs leadership that is compassionate toward farmers through disciplined fiscal management that is attractive to investors, resolute against environmental destruction, and uncompromising in strengthening institutions.
It is unfortunate President Mahama’s 2026 address did not rise to that standard. And in moments of economic and environmental fragility, presentational leadership is not enough.
Ghanaians deserve more than mere words. We need to see a credible roadmap anchored in reform, fairness and forward thinking.
Ing Kwabena Agyei Agyepong,
1st March 2026.
6 Anang Loop, East Legon, Accra
General News
“I Stood by You in 2013, I’ll Stand by You Again” – Joseph Osei Oppong Brenya Backs Chairman Wontumi
The National Communications Director of the Hopeful New Patriotic Party (NPP), Joseph Osei-Oppong Brenya, has reaffirmed his support for Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, amid the latter’s ongoing legal challenges.
In a strongly worded Facebook post, Brenya reflected on his long-standing relationship with Chairman Wontumi, recalling that he publicly defended him in 2013 when, according to him, doing so was unpopular.
“In 2013, I stood by you when it was not fashionable to do so. I exposed the then John Dramani Mahama’s evil plans against you and your businesses. Here they are again but they will fail this one too,” he wrote.
Brenya asserted that despite occasional disagreements with Wontumi over internal NPP politics, his loyalty to the Ashanti Regional Chairman remains unwavering.
“We may differ a bit in NPP politics but loyalty goes beyond these. This is not the time to leave you behind. I am with you and we will not allow evil to triumph.”
He ended his message with a statement that has since attracted attention on social media.
“May God forgive them, because we won’t.”
The Facebook post comes amid ongoing public and political discussions surrounding Chairman Wontumi’s legal battle, with several NPP figures rallying behind the Ashanti Regional Chairman and criticizing what they describe as political persecution.
General News
Minority Accuses Government of Selective Justice in Akonta Case, Demands Equal Treatment Under the Law
The Parliamentary Minority Caucus has accused the government of practicing selective justice following the High Court’s judgment in the case of The Republic v. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Akonta Limited.
Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei argued that state institutions appear to act more swiftly and aggressively when members of the political opposition are involved.
“The Minority Caucus has taken note of the judgment delivered by the High Court in the case of The Republic v. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Akonta Limited,” she stated.
According to Hon. Appiagyei, the matter extends beyond the prosecution of one individual and raises broader concerns about the fairness of Ghana’s justice system. She stressed that democracy can only thrive when citizens, particularly those on the losing side of political contests, have confidence that the law is applied consistently and impartially.
She maintained that if the government is genuinely committed to ending selective justice, it must demonstrate the same determination in prosecuting members of its own political ranks.
“When the law is applied only when convenient, then no citizen’s rights are secure, regardless of political affiliation. Public confidence in institutions that should outlive any administration is weakened,” she said.
The Minority also issued four key demands in response to the court’s ruling:
- Attorney-General: Publish the government’s enforcement record on illegal mining cases involving individuals across the political divide to prove that the law is being enforced without bias.
- Court of Appeal: Carefully examine issues raised in the case, including the alleged denial of legal counsel, the refusal to make a constitutional referral, and matters relating to bail, with what the Minority described as “equal and unflinching scrutiny.”
- Judiciary: Clarify and reaffirm the legal threshold for constitutional referrals, taking into account the Supreme Court’s decision in the Zenator case.
- The Ghanaian Public: Demand the same standards of justice that, according to the Minority, cleared Tsatsu Tsikata’s name in 2006 be applied consistently in current cases.
Hon. Appiagyei concluded by emphasizing that justice must not only be carried out but must also be visibly fair and applied equally to all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.
General News
Mahama hosts AU extraordinary summit on universal health coverage and ending AIDS
President John Dramani Mahama is hosting the African Union (AU) Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Accra from July 21 to 22, 2026, aimed at advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthening Africa’s response to major public health challenges.
The summit, themed “Advancing Justice, Equity and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, TB, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions in Africa,” will bring together African Heads of State and Government, ministers responsible for health, finance and foreign affairs, officials of the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, civil society organisations, youth representatives and private sector stakeholders.
According to the Presidency, the two-day meeting will focus on strengthening Africa’s health systems and accelerating the continent’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
The summit opens on July 21 with a Member State Experts Meeting, where senior officials from the Ministries of Health, Finance and Economic Planning will develop technical recommendations for consideration by ministers and Heads of State.
On July 22, the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government will deliberate on and adopt key decisions, including a declaration aimed at accelerating the implementation of the African Union Roadmap to 2030.
The Presidency said Ghana’s hosting of the summit reflects President Mahama’s commitment to equitable healthcare delivery and his administration’s efforts to expand access to quality health services.
Key initiatives highlighted include the rollout of the Free Primary Health Care Programme, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to improve access to essential healthcare, and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCares, to support Universal Health Coverage.
The government also pointed to ongoing investments in health infrastructure, workforce development, emergency preparedness and local pharmaceutical manufacturing as measures that align with the objectives of the summit.
A major side event will feature a Call to Action on Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Survival, led by the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, in partnership with the Accra Reset initiative.
The Government of Ghana has welcomed all participating Heads of State, delegates and stakeholders, reaffirming its commitment to working with the African Union and member states to advance health equity and Universal Health Coverage across Africa.
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