Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has lauded President John Dramani Mahama, labeling him a “talk-and-do” leader for fulfilling key campaign promises through the 2025 Budget.
He emphasized that the budget is not just a policy document but a testament to Mahama’s commitment to delivering on his pledges.
“President John Dramani Mahama promised to abolish E-levy – yamutu’—and he has done exactly that. He promised to remove emission levies, abolish VAT on motor vehicle insurance, and stabilize the cedi through the Ghana Gold Board. Mr. Speaker, this budget demonstrates that we have a talk-and-do president,” he stressed.
Concluding the debate on the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the Majority Leader underscored the reductions in government ministries from 30 to 23 and a cut in ministers from 88 to 60 as evidence of Mahama’s pledge to reduce government expenditure and increase efficiency.
Ayariga also noted the budget’s emphasis on social interventions, arguing that no government since Kwame Nkrumah had taken such bold steps to strengthen social welfare programs.
“From healthcare to education, to local governance, this budget makes significant allocations. Free sanitary pads, free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, and free primary healthcare are all part of Mahama’s vision for a stronger social protection system,” he stated.
He pointed out that the removal of budgetary capping on critical sectors like the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), GETFund, and Road Fund would restore essential services, allowing road projects, school infrastructure, and healthcare facilities to thrive.
Responding to criticisms that the government’s flagship ‘Big Push’ infrastructure policy was underfunded, Ayariga urged skeptics to look beyond the headline figure of GH¢13 billion.
According to him, uncapping the Road Fund, GETFund, and GMPC allocations will channel billions into infrastructure stating, “When those funds are directed into roads, schools, and energy, is that not a ‘Big Push’ for development?” he asked.
Mahama Ayariga took a swipe at the Minority for lacking a proper grasp of budget analysis and stressed that the caucus need a crash course in Budget Analysis 101 to appreciate the wisdom, ingenuity, and intellect that went into crafting this budget.
The Majority leader delivered a scathing condemnation of the previous administration describing it as “criminal mismanagement” of Ghana’s economy under the Akufo-Addo administration.
He cited skyrocketing public debt, a collapsed banking sector, and massive corruption scandals such as the Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML) deal, which reportedly cost the state GH¢720 million.
He said, “Our economy was driven to the brink by reckless borrowing. Treasury bill rates hit 30%, inflation soared to 50%, and the cedi collapsed from GH¢3.9 in 2017 to over GH¢15 in 2024. Meanwhile, government officials were busy constructing a $261 million Bank of Ghana headquarters while ordinary Ghanaians suffered.”
Ayariga called for prosecutions to be carried out against individuals responsible for the economic mismanagement.
“Mr. Speaker, there must be accountability. The people of Ghana deserve justice for the years of financial recklessness that brought our economy to its knees,” he declared.
