Accusations of widespread failure, corruption, and increasing hardship were leveled against the Mahama administration by the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, as Parliament reconvened on Thursday for its Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament. The Deputy Minority Leader, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, delivered the welcome address, highlighting a parliamentary recess overshadowed by the return of power outages, known locally as ‘dumsor,’ and a general rise in public anxiety.
‘Dumsor’ Returns Amidst Arrests and Economic Woes
Madam Appiagyei condemned the recent arrests of New Patriotic Party (NPP) members and supporters for allegedly posting about the return of ‘dumsor’ on social media. She characterized these arrests as a direct assault on democratic freedoms.
Specifically, she cited the detention of a party organizer by masked officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for a Facebook post declaring ‘Dumsor is back.’
‘Mr. Speaker, dumsor is back under a government that campaigned loudly on ending it,’ Appiagyei stated, emphasizing the negative impact on businesses, hospitals, and students.
As the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Asokwa, she urged the Energy Minister to present a clear, costed, and time-bound plan to resolve the ongoing load-shedding crisis.
Bank of Ghana Faces Scrutiny Over Massive Losses
The Deputy Minority Leader also raised serious concerns regarding the Bank of Ghana (BoG), citing its audited accounts for 2025. According to the report, the central bank incurred a combined loss of GH¢34.9 billion, widening its negative equity to a staggering GH¢93.82 billion.
Appiagyei pointed out that GH¢9.6 billion of the reported income was generated from the sale of gold reserves.
She questioned the allocation of GH¢14.61 billion allegedly paid as interest to commercial banks while the BoG was experiencing significant financial hemorrhaging.
‘Mr. Speaker, GH¢93.82 billion in negative equity at the institution that issues our currency is not a footnote. It is a crisis,’ she declared.
The Minority is demanding a joint hearing involving the Finance and Economy Committees and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana.
Questions Surround Damang Mine Lease Award
The award of the Damang Mine lease to Engineers and Planners Company Limited, a firm owned by President John Dramani Mahama’s brother, Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, has also come under intense scrutiny.
Madam Appiagyei described the transaction, reportedly valued between $600 million and $1 billion, as ‘a questionable transaction dressed in the language of due process.’
While acknowledging the President’s reported recusal from the relevant Cabinet meeting, Appiagyei argued that presidential appointees proceeded with the deal, indicating ‘delegation, not recusal.’
A full parliamentary probe has been called for, with demands for the Lands and Natural Resources Minister and the Minerals Commission Chief Executive Officer to produce bid documents and beneficial ownership records.
Foreign Affairs and Citizen Safety Concerns Raised
In the realm of foreign affairs and citizen safety, Madam Appiagyei highlighted several incidents. These include the detention of Mr. Ohene Kwame Frimpong, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Asante Akyem North in the Netherlands, xenophobic attacks on Ghanaians in South Africa, the killing of eight Ghanaian tomato traders in Burkina Faso, and the risks faced by Ghanaians in the Gulf region amidst Iran-Israel hostilities.
She contended that the Foreign Affairs Ministry only acted after sustained pressure from the Minority, including direct intervention by the Minority Leader at the ECOWAS Parliament.
Demands were made for an African Union (AU) coalition strategy, a parliamentary-approved reintegration plan for Ghanaians returning from abroad, and an early warning framework to protect citizens overseas.
World Cup Hosting and Athletics Championship Criticized
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Madam Appiagyei criticized Ghana’s hosting of the 24th African Senior Athletics Championships in May as an ‘international embarrassment.’ She cited deficiencies such as a lack of blankets, food shortages, timing system failures, and inadequate transportation.
The Minority is calling for a full House hearing and a written preparedness plan for the upcoming World Cup.
Minority Issues Eight Demands
The Deputy Minority Leader outlined eight immediate demands for the government. These include the release of individuals detained for political speech, a thorough investigation into the Damang Mine lease deal, hearings on the failures at the Bank of Ghana and the athletics championships, and comprehensive briefings on the safety of Ghanaians abroad.
‘Parliament stands at the centre of the nation’s life. When the Executive fails, Parliament must speak. When power is abused, it remains our constitutional duty to say so—clearly, firmly, and without apology,’ she concluded.
The House had adjourned sine die for the Easter break on Friday, March 27, 2026, before reconvening on Thursday.
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