Afenyo-Markin: Parliament Kept in the Dark on Key Government Programmes.
Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin
Accra, Ghana —Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called on the government to immediately submit to Parliament all official documents on its flagship programmes, warning that the House is being “kept in the dark” on major initiatives that have already received parliamentary approval and funding.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, October 22, Afenyo-Markin said the government’s reluctance to provide documentation for scrutiny is undermining Parliament’s oversight role. “We insist this is the place for scrutiny, yet Parliament is being kept in the dark. Government has failed to furnish Parliament with programme documents for many of the flagship initiatives it has launched. We have not seen the task of oversight commence because there is nothing before us to examine,” he stated.
The Majority Leader listed several key programmes that, according to him, have yet to undergo any form of parliamentary review. These include the Feed Ghana Programme, launched in April 2025; the 24-Hour Economy Initiative; the Big Push Infrastructure Plan, a US $10 billion investment aimed at expanding roads and national connectivity; the 1 Million Codes Programme; the Agri-Food Economic Transformation Programme; the Pilot Labour Export Programme; and the National Apprenticeship Programme.
He noted that these initiatives are being financed with resources appropriated by Parliament, stressing that they must therefore be supported by implementation documents before execution begins. “It is unacceptable for government to roll out programmes using funds approved by Parliament without first submitting details for examination. Parliament must not be reduced to a rubber stamp,” he cautioned.
Afenyo-Markin also drew attention to omissions in the 2025 Budget Statement, observing that the document presented by the Finance Minister “made no mention of the 24-Hour Economy Programme” despite its prior public launch. He said such lapses create confusion and weaken public confidence in governance.
Reaffirming Parliament’s commitment to accountability, the Majority Leader pledged that the House will not relent in demanding transparency from the executive.
“We will not relent in pressing government to make these programme documents available so they can be scrutinized fairly. That is the only way to ensure accountability and value for money,” Afenyo-Markin emphasized.
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