The Member of Parliament for Afadzato South, Frank Afriyie, has declared that Ghana is “not on autopilot, i’ts being controlled ” insisting that the current administration is pursuing deliberate and measurable development policies aimed at improving the lives of citizens across the country.
Contributing to the debate on the motion to thank the President for his message on the state of the nation, Mr. Afriyie described the address by John Dramani Mahama as a detailed and evidence-based account of government’s performance.
“I would describe the President’s address as a magnificently outstanding, sector-by-sector and blow-by-blow account of his stewardship to the people of this country,” he told the House.
According to the Afadzato South legislator, the address demonstrates what the government means by its pledge to “reset” governance by focusing on practical outcomes that directly benefit ordinary Ghanaians.
“Our governance is meaningless unless it delivers concrete, impactful and purposeful outcomes to each citizen,” he said.
Mr. Afriyie pointed to reforms in local governance as a key example of the government’s renewed focus on grassroots development, noting that nearly 40 percent of Ghana’s population lives in rural communities that require targeted policy support.
He said recent visits to parts of the Western and Central regions by Parliament’s committee on rural development and local governance revealed significant improvements in infrastructure and service delivery at the local level.
The MP argued that district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies are now better resourced to carry out development projects compared to previous years.
To illustrate his point, he cited the case of a municipality in the Western Region which, he said, received GH¢2.7 million in 2024, but has since seen its allocation increase to about GH¢26 million under the current administration.
“Look at the yawning gap between GH¢2.7 million and GH¢26 million. No wonder the assemblies are now delivering efficiently and effectively,” he said.
Mr. Afriyie maintained that the increased funding is being accompanied by strict guidelines to ensure the resources are used for development priorities rather than routine administrative spending.
He explained that part of the funds has been earmarked for addressing pressing social needs, including the shortage of school furniture in public schools.
Citing findings by the education advocacy group Education Watch, he said about 2.3 million pupils in public schools across the country currently lack desks, a situation the government is seeking to address through district-level procurement initiatives.
The MP also highlighted water access challenges, referencing studies by the Safe Water Network which indicate that about 44 percent of Ghanaians lack access to safe and clean drinking water.
He said the President has directed that a portion of resources allocated to local assemblies be used to drill and mechanise boreholes to improve water access in underserved communities.
According to him, government projections suggest that by 2028 about 5,000 boreholes could be drilled nationwide, potentially providing safe drinking water to more than 500,000 people.
“Anyone who gives water gives life,” Mr. Afriyie said. “This is the governance we are talking about.”
He further disclosed that government plans also include the construction of more than 500 Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds across the country by 2028 to expand access to primary healthcare.
The MP said these facilities will strengthen community healthcare delivery and complement the administration’s broader health policies aimed at making medical services more accessible to citizens.
“This is the evidence that Ghana is not on autopilot,” he said, adding that the government’s approach combines increased resource allocation with clear development targets to deliver tangible results for communities.
By: Christian Kpesese
