Minority Slams Government for Misplaced Priorities Amid Economic Hardship
The Minority in Parliament has accused the government of prioritizing symbolic gestures over substantive reforms, citing a controversial push to urgently amend Ghana’s Holidays Act while critical legislation affecting the livelihoods of Ghanaians remains neglected.
In a spirited debate on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, Minority Leader, Osahen Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, took issue with the government’s attempt to fast-track an amendment to the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601) under a certificate of urgency.
“The government appears more committed to resetting the national calendar than resetting the economy,” Hon. Afenyo-Markin stated. “We are in the midst of economic hardship, yet the urgency being applied is for new public holidays, not for job creation or social protection.”
The proposed amendment, introduced by the Minister for the Interior, seeks to reinstate July 1st as Republic Day and declare it a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, fulfilling a campaign pledge by President John Mahama. While acknowledging the importance of honoring Ghana’s history, the Minority described the government’s approach as “perplexing and misplaced.”
“What’s the Emergency?” The Minority questioned the rationale behind granting a certificate of urgency to what they described as a non-critical Bill. “This tool is typically reserved for national emergencies — not for commemorating already well-recognized historical events,” the Minority Leader argued.
Citing the government’s failure to deliver on multiple electoral promises, the Minority listed several key legislative initiatives that remain unfulfilled months after the NDC administration assumed office. These include:
The Property Rights of Spouses Bill, intended to ensure fair distribution of marital property and protect women’s rights, which has yet to be laid before Parliament.
The Domestic Workers Bill, aimed at formalizing laboUr protections for domestic staff, is still missing from the legislative agenda.
The Intestate Succession Amendment Bill, which would reform inheritance laws for spouses and children, has seen no parliamentary action.
A promised Scholarships Reform Bill, which was expected to end politically biased scholarship awards, has also not been introduced — despite the President’s own 120-day deadline for action.
Tax reforms and automotive import policy changes, particularly the repeal of the ban on salvaged vehicles, which were promised within the first 90 days, have not materialized.
Anti-corruption legislation, including a conflict-of-interest law and restrictions on public officials acquiring state assets, remain entirely absent from Parliament.
Constitutional reforms, such as allowing the election of MMDCEs and scrapping ex-gratia payments, have made no legislative progress beyond the formation of a committee.
1D1F Abandonment and Inaction on Galamsey The Minority also criticized the government for what they termed the quiet dismantling of the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative, which was a flagship industrialization program under the previous administration. According to the Minority, the current government has failed to provide any alternative industrialization policy.
They further expressed concern over the government’s inaction on illegal mining, or galamsey, despite repeated campaign pledges to introduce stronger regulatory measures. “Not a single law has been introduced to clamp down on this menace,” the Minority noted, adding that even the widely criticized Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, which they promised to repeal, remains in force.
Anti-LGBT+ Bill: From Campaign Promise to Silence The Minority also accused the government of reneging on its vocal support for the Anti-LGBT+ Bill, which dominated political discourse in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.
“In opposition, the NDC made it a cornerstone of their campaign. Now in power, they have gone completely silent on it,” they charged, adding that the lack of a government-sponsored bill or timeline betrays the trust of Ghanaians who supported them on this basis.
Symbolism over Substance the Minority suggested the administration is more interested in low-risk, high-visibility legislative wins, rather than tackling difficult systemic issues.
“Senior Citizens’ Day and a new National Prayer Holiday were pushed through with urgency,” they said, “but key laws on affirmative action, women’s rights, youth employment, and procurement reforms are stuck in limbo.”
They further cited the lack of legislative support for youth-centered programs such as the National Apprenticeship Programme and “One Million Coders,” noting that while these initiatives were announced with great fanfare, they lack the legal frameworks and funding commitments needed to succeed.
A Call to Refocus Legislative Urgency In conclusion, the Minority called on the government to align its urgency with the priorities of ordinary Ghanaians.
“This is not about opposing public holidays — it’s about demanding that the same urgency be applied to laws that put food on the table, protect the vulnerable, and strengthen our institutions,” the statement said.
They urged Parliament to resist rubber-stamping symbolic legislation at the expense of meaningful reform.
“The legislative calendar must reflect the true needs of Ghanaians — not just the ceremonial ambitions of the executive.”
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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