In a charged and wide-ranging opening statement in Parliament, Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mahama Ayariga, outlined a sweeping legislative and accountability agenda, including an unflinching probe into the financial dealings of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

Ayariga, addressing Parliament on Tuesday, declared the Majority Caucus’ intention to demand full accountability for the management of public funds during the NPP era, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Majority Leader hinted at a comprehensive investigation into how emergency funds were utilized, echoing longstanding public concern over possible misappropriation and lack of transparency.

This demand for accountability comes amid deepening scrutiny over several unresolved financial controversies during the NPP administration.

Among them is the infamous Power Distribution Services (PDS) scandal, which involved an alleged fraudulent concession agreement in Ghana’s power sector that reportedly cost the country $190 million.

Ayariga pledged that the House would revisit this deal in detail.

Equally under the microscope is the Agyapa Royalties deal, a mineral income monetization agreement fiercely criticized for lacking transparency and risking the mortgaging of Ghana’s mineral resources.

The Majority announced it would seek a detailed update and reassessment of this transaction.

COVID-19 Expenditures Under the Spotlight

While Ghana, like other nations, faced an emergency during the COVID-19 outbreak, questions persist over how funds—both domestic and donor-supported—were spent.

“We will demand a full-scale parliamentary investigation into the handling of COVID-19 expenditures to ensure transparency in how emergency funds were utilized,” Ayariga declared, signaling that Parliament would not let the matter fade without resolution.

Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL)

The Majority Caucus also threw its weight behind the Attorney-General’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), a government initiative currently reviewing 36 financial cases worth over $20 billion.

This includes land fraud cases estimated at $702.2 million.

According to Ayariga, Parliament will request regular briefings on the progress of prosecutions, emphasizing that “the gravest danger to our democracy is impunity.”

The Majority stressed that Ghanaians deserve justice for what it termed as “brazen plunder” of public resources.

New BoG Building

Further complicating the financial legacy of the previous administration is the controversy surrounding the new Bank of Ghana headquarters—initially estimated at $81.8 million but reportedly ballooned to $250 million.

The Majority Leader cited revelations including a staggering $11.1 million spent on furniture alone, despite the building remaining incomplete and unsafe.

The project, initiated under the NPP government, was highlighted as a glaring example of mismanagement and waste.

Parliament, Ayariga assured, would investigate the matter thoroughly.

Previous Legislative Gains and Economic Reforms

While setting its sights on accountability, the Majority also showcased achievements from its first meeting. Eleven significant bills were passed, including the repeal of the e-levy and carbon emission tax, and removal of taxes on lottery winnings and small-scale gold miners.

Additionally, critical funds like GETFund and the National Health Insurance Scheme received increased allocations following legislative action.

Two landmark bills—the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board and the 2025 Appropriations Bill—were highlighted as pivotal in stabilizing the economy and enhancing oversight in key sectors.

Currency Gains

The Majority boasted of a dramatic rebound of the cedi—citing a 24.1% appreciation against the US dollar since January—and corresponding reductions in fuel prices and transportation fares nationwide.

According to Ayariga, these improvements reflect the effective economic stewardship under Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson, whose policies have become popularly known as “Forsonnomics.”

Future Legislative Agenda

The Majority outlined an ambitious legislative agenda touching nearly every sector—from finance and education to energy and social protection. Bills to modernize petroleum sector oversight, legal reforms to tackle corruption, legalization of Okada, and review of mining and chieftaincy laws are all slated for introduction during this sitting.

Significantly, a new Conduct of Public Officers Bill, reforms to the Legal Profession, and the controversial Removal from Office of Justices of the Supreme Court Rules were all listed as part of President Mahama’s plan to “reset Ghana.”

Final Warning

In a sharp rebuke, the Majority Caucus also condemned an unresolved incident from the previous session where an NPP backbencher allegedly made a sexist remark against a female MP.

Mahama Ayariga demanded that all NPP members who were seated in that direction be referred to the Privileges Committee, calling the incident the “lowest point” of the last sitting.

Concluding his address, Ayariga emphasized the need for strong governance between elections to safeguard democracy.

“If we falter, democracy will fail our citizens, and the appeal of military adventurism may grow,” he warned, positioning Parliament as the final bulwark against impunity, misrule, and economic instability.