In a recent parliamentary meeting held on September 3, 2024, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader of Ghana, expressed grave concerns about the state of the country's economy, describing it as 'bleeding' due to high living costs that are making it increasingly difficult for citizens to make ends meet [269bfd14]. Forson criticized the government's tax exemptions, claiming they primarily benefit crony businesses and have cost taxpayers over $350 million. He pointed out that the cocoa sector is in crisis, with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) struggling to secure loans from international banks, which has adversely affected cocoa prices and, consequently, farmers' earnings [269bfd14].
This criticism comes in the context of an ongoing debate over tax waivers sought by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government. The Majority Caucus, led by Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, has accused the Minority Caucus of hypocrisy for opposing these waivers, despite similar actions taken by the previous administration under John Dramani Mahama [67c23aa6]. Afenyo-Markin specifically referenced tax waivers granted to companies like Dzata Cement, owned by Mahama's brother, which amounted to over $800 million without parliamentary approval [67c23aa6].
Amidst these economic discussions, Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam recently urged media owners to improve journalists' pay to ensure professionalism and independence within the industry. Speaking at the Northern Regional Ghana Journalists Association Awards on September 14, 2024, he acknowledged the challenging economic situation but highlighted significant recovery efforts. Adam expressed concern over journalists' working conditions and called for better rewards, emphasizing that government investments in health have increased from 1 billion cedis in 2016 to 6.5 billion cedis in 2024. He also announced a 500,000 cedis scholarship scheme for journalists in the Northern Region [325182b6].
The political landscape in Ghana is becoming increasingly polarized as the country approaches the presidential elections in just 95 days. Forson has also called for a forensic audit of the Voter Register due to alleged irregularities, further intensifying the political discourse [269bfd14]. The debate surrounding tax waivers and economic management highlights the contrasting views of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on how to best address the nation's economic challenges [67c23aa6].
As the elections draw near, the discussions around economic policies, tax exemptions, and the integrity of the electoral process are likely to play a significant role in shaping voter sentiment and party strategies in the upcoming polls [269bfd14].