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The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has been summoned to appear before Parliament on Friday, 28th February 2025, to address concerns surrounding the deportation of Ghanaian nationals from the United States of America. Lawmakers are pressing the government to implement measures that will support returnees and manage migration more effectively. The call for parliamentary scrutiny was initiated by the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, who voiced strong concerns over the treatment of Ghanaian deportees in US detention centers.

He described the conditions in which they were held as degrading and urged the government to take a firm stance on the matter. Speaking in Parliament on Friday, 21st February, Rev. Ntim Fordjour highlighted the severe impact of these deportations on affected individuals. He lamented the hardships endured by Ghanaians in foreign detention facilities, arguing that many of them face significant difficulties reintegrating into society upon their return.

“What is most distressing about these deportations is not only the scale but the inhumane treatment our citizens endure at US detention centres before their forced removal,” he stated. “Reports in the media paint a grim picture of our people being subjected to degrading conditions.”

The Assin South MP, therefore, called for the establishment of structured reintegration programmes, including job placement initiatives, to assist returnees in rebuilding their lives.

He stressed that many deportees had spent the majority of their lives in the United States and would struggle to reintegrate without adequate government support.

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has dismissed demands to summon the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, over the closure of seven radio stations. According to the Bawku Central MP, Mr. George was only enforcing existing regulations, stating that attempts to vilify him were disappointing. “I am surprised that you will make the minister the subject of castigation and unnecessary attacks, trying to question his competence when all he is saying in this communication is that the NCA Director General is enforcing the law because these stations are operating without authorization,” he stated on the floor of Parliament.

The Minister, on February 18, 2025, directed the National Communications Authority (NCA) to shut down seven radio stations.

A media advisory from the ministry listed the affected stations as Fire Group of Companies (Sunyani – 90.1 MHz), I-Zar Consult Limited (Tamale – 89.7 MHz), Abochannel Media Group (Adidome – 105.7 MHz), Okyeame Radio Limited (Bibiani – 99.7 MHz), Mumen Bono Foundation (Techiman – 99.7 MHz), and Osikani Community FM (Nkrankwanta – 99.7 MHz). The ministry justified the move, stating that the affected stations were operating without valid frequency authorisations, in violation of Section 2(4) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775). On the back of this, Mr. Ayariga maintained that radio stations must adhere to licensing regulations.

He emphasised that any station operating illegally would face shutdowns, and those affected had the option of applying for proper authorisation.

“The minister will shut the radio stations down today, and tomorrow they should go for authorisation. If the stations had frequency authorisation, he wouldn’t have shut them down. Why didn’t he shut down Joy FM, Citi FM, and all other stations that are operating legally?” he questioned.

The Majority remains firm in its position that the minister acted within the scope of the law.

It has thus rejected calls for him to be summoned, insisting that regulatory compliance is non-negotiable and must be upheld to ensure fair and legal broadcasting practices across the country.

The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has urged the government to prioritize Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a sustainable means of financing Ghana’s growing infrastructure deficit. Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, the former Minister for Works and Housing and Information under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration argued that PPPs offer a viable alternative to traditional funding sources, which have become increasingly difficult to mobilize.

“Ghana, in the last decade, has faced a critical infrastructure and public service deficit heightened by fiscal constraints, rising debt levels, and limited access to international capital markets. The demand for road investments, energy, healthcare, water, and education far exceeds the government’s financial capacity to deliver at any point in time,” he stated. Mr. Oppong Nkrumah explained that while most administrations have resorted to cutting government expenditure in response to these challenges, such an approach risks slowing economic growth and limiting job creation. He noted that many countries increasingly turn to PPPs to bridge the infrastructure financing gap, allowing private sector actors to assume significant responsibility for financing and managing public projects.

“By leveraging private sector capital, technical expertise, and innovation, PPPs can deliver essential projects more effectively and efficiently while reducing the financial burden on the government,” he said.

Challenges Hindering PPPs in Ghana

Despite the passage of the Public-Private Partnership Act (Act 1039) in 2020, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah observed that Ghana’s PPP ecosystem remains underdeveloped, with only a few projects successfully executed under the model. He cited parts of the Tema Motorway expansion and the Bonkra Inland Port project as some of the limited cases where PPPs have been utilized. According to him, several factors continue to hinder the widespread adoption of PPPs in Ghana.

“First, there’s a low level of awareness and preference for PPPs within both the public and private sectors. Many project promoters and government agencies still prefer outright contracts where the private sector delivers and the government pays, rather than structuring projects as PPPs,” he explained. He also pointed to limited capacity within both the public and private sectors for structuring, modelling, and negotiating PPP transactions, noting that even when there is an appetite for PPP arrangements, institutions often lack the technical know-how to execute them effectively.

Additionally, he lamented the bureaucratic bottlenecks embedded in the current legal framework, which slow down the negotiation and execution of PPP projects.

“Anecdotal evidence suggests that in some cases, it takes close to a year to put one project together,” he revealed.

He further highlighted the high financial risks associated with PPP projects, which are compounded by national macroeconomic challenges such as inflation and exchange rate depreciation, discouraging private sector players from engaging in long-term PPP investments.

Recommendations for the Way Forward

To address these challenges, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah proposed a series of recommendations to help mainstream PPPs in Ghana’s infrastructure and public service delivery. “First, we need to improve the level of awareness and acceptability of PPPs. It’s important for increased public and stakeholder engagement to make PPPs a more common feature in infrastructure and service delivery,” he urged.

He further called for increased investment in specialised training for government officials in areas such as negotiation, risk assessment, and financial structuring.

“Consulting groups, including legal and accounting firms, as well as project management experts, also need to deepen their expertise in modelling and structuring PPPs,” he added. To encourage private sector participation, the MP recommended that the government introduce credit enhancement mechanisms, such as government-backed guarantees, to mitigate investment risks.

Citing his experience as Minister for Works and Housing, he noted that efforts had been made to de-risk housing PPPs by providing incentives such as access to land.

“The PPP Act itself, though new, may require some immediate amendment to certain sections and enforcement of others,” he suggested.

He specifically called for a revision of Section 77 of the Act to streamline project implementation and urged the government to expedite the passage of regulations to clarify grey areas in the law.

Finally, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah proposed that the government package a pipeline of bankable PPP projects and embark on regular investment roadshows to attract potential partners.

“This will fast-track the rollout of PPP projects in the country,” he emphasised.

The Ofoase Ayirebi legislator reiterated that PPPs present a strategic solution to Ghana’s infrastructure and public service challenges, urging the government to prioritize the PPP option in delivering essential projects for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has revealed that he was victimised in his attempt to reform the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) during his tenure as Board Chair.

The Effutu MP made this disclosure during the vetting of Deputy Energy Minister-designate Richard Gyan-Mensah, expressing concerns over the lack of support for reform efforts in state institutions.

“I tried to reform Ghana Water, and I rather became the victim. It makes me sad as a politician because we don’t support each other for real reforms,” he lamented.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin bemoaned the recurring pattern where bold reformers face resistance from vested interests, leading to stagnation and inefficiencies across successive governments.

He, therefore, cautioned Mr. Gyan-Mensah to be prepared for resistance but urged him to remain steadfast in his duties.

“If you are not assertive, you will spend your time there, come back, and find the same political football being played. The system will fight you, but you must be bold and push for real reforms,” he advised.

The Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) has expressed cautious optimism ahead of the government’s 2025 Budget Statement, emphasizing the need for significant reforms to reduce the cost of doing business. The Association welcomed assurances from the new administration to streamline the tax system and cut down taxes, duties, and levies, which have long been a burden on the trading community. “The assurance to ease the business climate through tax reforms is a step in the right direction,” GUTA President Dr. Joseph Obeng stated. “Our expectations are clear, and we believe this budget is an opportunity to address long-standing challenges traders face.”

GUTA has outlined key expectations from the budget, starting with the elimination of what it terms “nuisance taxes.” The Association believes scrapping redundant taxes will significantly relieve businesses, promote growth, and foster a more competitive market environment. High on the list of demands is the restructuring of the Value Added Tax (VAT) to make it simpler, more affordable, and uniform across sectors. “A reformed VAT system will ease compliance burdens and make operations more predictable for businesses,” Dr. Obeng noted.

Addressing concerns over the volatility of the Ghana cedi, GUTA has proposed that the Bank of Ghana’s dollar rate—used to determine import duty payments—be fixed quarterly or bi-annually instead of the current weekly or biweekly adjustments. “Frequent changes in the dollar rate destabilize business planning. Pegging it quarterly will bring much-needed stability,” the Association emphasized. GUTA is also advocating for the introduction of unconditional tax amnesty programs to broaden the tax base. The Association believes such initiatives will encourage non-compliant businesses to enter the tax net and allow companies with irregularities to settle obligations without harsh penalties.

“This is not just about revenue mobilization—it’s about giving businesses breathing space to recover and grow,” Dr. Obeng explained.

On compliance, GUTA is urging the government to adopt effective education, monitoring, and enforcement strategies to ensure the fair application of tax laws.

Traders are also looking forward to the implementation of a fixed duty system for spare parts, a promise highlighted in the governing party’s manifesto. GUTA believes this pilot project could eventually be extended to cover all imported commodities, further stabilizing import costs. Economic stability remains a top priority for the trading community. GUTA is calling for policies that will ensure the stability of the local currency, reduce inflation and interest rates, and improve key economic indicators. “A stable economic environment is crucial for business predictability and growth,” Dr. Obeng stressed.

Beyond revenue measures, the Association is urging the government to scrutinize and evaluate its expenditures to prevent waste and mismanagement of public funds.

“We pay taxes to see meaningful development. Value for money should be a guiding principle in public spending,” Dr. Obeng asserted.