The Minority in Parliament of Ghana, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has criticized President John Dramani Mahama’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), accusing the government of relying on campaign-style rhetoric while failing to address pressing economic issues, including cocoa farmers’ payments and electricity tariff hikes.
According to the Minority Leader, the President’s address gave the impression that someone else is responsible for running the economy, filled with slogans and political rhetoric rather than actionable solutions. He criticized the NDC government for reducing the promised cocoa farm-gate price from GH₵6,000 to GH₵2,500 per bag, arguing that this has unfairly burdened poor cocoa farmers. “The Ghanaian cocoa farmer should be cared for and paid fairly, just as the NPP did,” he said. He also said the government failed to explain how maintaining a GH₵3,600 payback affects the farmers, and gave no justification for the “haircut” on cocoa payments.
On energy, the Minority highlighted inconsistencies in the government’s claims. While the President stated that nuisance taxes have been removed, the Minority pointed out the introduction of new levies, including the One Ghana City Levy on fuel and the Energy Sector Reform Levy (Dumosa Levy). These changes, combined with a 25–30% increase in electricity tariffs, are hitting ordinary Ghanaians hard. The Minority noted that electricity which previously lasted a month now barely lasts a week, effectively making households pay more than 100% in practice despite the official percentage increase being lower.
The Minority emphasized that Ghana’s reserves exist to protect citizens during crises, and that government policies should prioritize tangible relief for ordinary Ghanaians over political posturing. They warned that ignoring the plight of cocoa farmers and energy consumers risks deepening public frustration.
In summary, the Minority called on the government to stop relying on slogans and provide real solutions that protect both farmers and everyday citizens, stressing that policy decisions must translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of Ghanaians.
