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Parliament press briefing: Mahama Ayariga explains delay in anti-LGBTQ bill

By
Ivy Hollys
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mahama ayariga on parliament press briefing today.

Majority leader Mahama Ayariga, speaking at the parliament press briefing on Thursday, May 22, 2026, explained that the delay in considering the human sexual and family values bill is due to plans to incorporate community service as part of the penalties for some categories of offenses.

Addressing the media as the 9th Parliament resumed sitting after recess, Mahama Ayariga said some members of parliament believe certain offenses under the bill should attract community service instead of custodial sentences. According to him, discussions around the proposed legislation have also been influenced by concerns over congestion in Ghana’s prisons and the long-term impact imprisonment has on offenders.

“There are some MPs that think that some of the penalties should include something like community service for some of the categories of the offences. Beyond that, we have a bigger problem of congested prisons.” he said during the parliament press briefing.

Mahama Ayariga further explained that imprisonment for minor offences places additional financial pressure on the state while sometimes failing to reform offenders. He argued that some individuals leave prison more hardened because of the conditions they encounter while serving their sentences.

“A young boy goes to steal a fowl and you send him to prison for a year or two. By the time he comes out, he’s a well-prepared criminal because of the conditions in prison. So, instead of reforming, he rather just decides to specialize in the life of crime because he’s seen it. And so, it no longer deters him to go to prison,” the majority leader stated at the parliament press briefing.

Community service bill to take priority

The Majority leader disclosed that the minister for the Interior intends to introduce a community service bill to provide alternative punishments for some categories of offences instead of imprisonment. He explained that Parliament wants to ensure the community service bill is passed first before amendments are made to the human sexual rights and family values bill.

“So, the minister for the interior wants to bring the community service bill so that for some category of offences, we can rather impose community service as part of the penalties instead of imprisonment. So, that is what actually delayed the consideration of the bill because we want to incorporate that in there,” he said.

Mahama Ayariga added that leadership is prioritizing the passage of the community service bill to create the legal basis for possible amendments to the human sexual and family values bill.

“So, we are prioritizing the community service bill so that immediately it is passed then, there’s a basis for some amendments in the family values bill to include community service as part of the penalties.”

“Dumsor is back”: Minority accuses government of arresting critics over power outage complaints

By
Ivy Hollys
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minority and dumsor is back comment

“Dumsor is back,” the minority in Parliament declared on Thursday May 21, 2026 as it accused the government of using state security agencies to intimidate critics speaking out over renewed power outages across the country.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament after the house reconvened from recess, deputy minority leader and Asokwa MP, Patricia Appiagyei, alleged that members and supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were arrested not for violent acts or criminal activity, but for expressing political opinions.

According to her, the arrest of a party organizer of the NPP was a means of intimidation. “A party organizer was seized by masked, heavily armed CID and BNI officers for posting a Facebook image of the president with the caption, ‘Dumsor is back.’ That is what it took to bring the full apparatus of state security to a citizen’s door,” Patricia Appiagyei told Parliament.

She described the arrests as an attack on freedom of expression guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution and warned that Ghana’s democracy risks moving backwards if citizens are targeted for expressing dissenting political views.

Quoting a lawyer involved in the case, she said, “What makes the statement false? Anybody who says Dumsor is not back is living in a cuckoo land.”

The Deputy Minority Leader also referenced comments by minority leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who reportedly described the incidents as “an endless assault on the fundamental rights of NPP officers and supporters.”

She argued that the use of security agencies against critics sets a dangerous precedent.

“Any government that deploys security forces against citizens for political opinion has lost its democratic bearing. Today, it is the NPP. Tomorrow, it could be anyone who dares to disagree,” she stated.

Patricia Appiagyei called on the Inspector General of Police and the CID Director-General to review all such arrests and release individuals being detained without sufficient legal justification. She also appealed to the attorney general and minister for justice to ensure security agencies remain neutral and uphold constitutional freedoms.

The minority also maintained that dumsor is back despite promises by the government to end the persistent power crisis, claiming several communities are once again experiencing prolonged and unpredictable outages.

Minority in parliament says arrest of Ghanaian MP in Amsterdam is damaging Ghana’s image 

By
Ivy Hollys
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minority in parliament

The minority in Parliament has called for urgent clarification from the government over what it describes as a major reputational crisis following the arrest of the member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Speaking in Parliament on behalf of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Deputy Minority Leader and Asokwa MP, Patricia Appiagyei said the minority wants full disclosure on 10 matters it considers to be of national concern.

First on the list was the arrest of the Asante Akyem North MP over alleged financial crimes linked to an international investigative corporation, which has cast Ghana in a negative light internationally. The minority in Parliament acknowledged that although the government, Parliament, and Ghana’s mission in The Hague are working to secure legal representation and provide consular support for the MP, she said that those efforts alone are not enough, considering the international attention the matter has attracted.

She argued that Ghana’s image has suffered significantly following reports carried by European media and warned that the situation reflects poorly on both parliament and the country.

The minority in Parliament, therefore, called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Speaker to intensify diplomatic engagement on the matter. The caucus also demanded regular briefings to Parliament and a formal statement outlining measures being taken to manage the international fallout.

Patricia Appiagyei further urged the public, political actors, and the media to exercise restraint, insisting that no court has made any findings against the MP.

“Our country’s name has been dragged through European headlines in a manner that reflects poorly on this Parliament and this nation. The Government must respond to this as what it is, a crisis with serious reputational consequences for Ghana. We call on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Speaker’s Office to intensify engagement, deploy a senior diplomatic presence, brief this House regularly and issue a formal statement on managing the international fallout,” she read. 

According to her, the minority will not condemn its colleague in the court of public opinion and expects others to uphold the principle of innocence until proven guilty.

“Such silence and routine would not suffice on innocents until proven guilty. The minority is unequivocal. No court has made any findings against our colleague. We would not try him in the court of public opinion. And we call on all political actors and media to show the same restraint.”

ACI World Congress: Governor of BOG says Ghana’s economy is rebounding after years of crisis 

By
Ivy Hollys
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aci 2026 world congress

The governor of the Bank of Ghana, Johnson Asiama, has stressed that macroeconomic stability remains the foundation for building strong and sustainable financial markets.

Speaking at the ACI World Congress under the theme “elevating markets, empowering people,” Dr. Asiama said stable economic conditions are necessary for capital markets to grow, credit to become affordable, and innovation to thrive within the formal financial system.

According to him, macroeconomic stability is not only beneficial for financial market development but also serves as the infrastructure upon which market growth becomes possible.

Dr. Asiama noted that Ghana faced severe economic challenges three years ago, with headline inflation reaching 54.1 percent in December 2022. He said the country also struggled with low international reserves, debt restructuring, and weak market confidence at the time.

He explained that the policy decisions taken by the Bank of Ghana and the Ministry of Finance during the period were difficult but necessary to restore stability to the economy.

Highlighting recent economic gains at the ACI World Congress, the governor disclosed that inflation had dropped to 3.4 percent by April 2026. He added that Ghana’s international reserves have increased to nearly 14 billion US dollars, representing more than five months of import cover and moving closer to six months. He revealed that 1,400 basis points had been removed from the policy rate since early 2025, while fiscal consolidation efforts continue to hold steady.

He also stated that Ghana’s banking sector has been recapitalized, and private sector lending is gradually recovering.

Despite the progress, the governor cautioned against excessive celebration, warning that global economic conditions remain uncertain and risks to the outlook still exist.

What to expect as parliament reconvenes tomorrow 

By
Ivy Hollys
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parliament reconvenes of may 21 2026

Parliament is set to reconvene tomorrow, May 21, 2026, at 10am, with several unresolved controversies from the previous sitting expected to dominate proceedings.

The last meeting of the house was marked by tensions, investigations, and unanswered questions, including concerns over a controversial “daughter of a murderer” comment made by a member of Parliament on the floor of the House. At the time, the speaker of Parliament indicated that Parliament would take action against the lawmaker involved and ensure punishment was enforced. However, no action has been taken so far.

Another major issue left unresolved relates to the chaos that erupted during the vetting of President John Dramani Mahama’s ministerial nominees at the Appointments Committee. A committee was set up to investigate the disturbances and later conducted public hearings into the matter. Despite the investigations, the report has not yet been presented on the floor of Parliament for consideration or decision-making.

The previous sitting, which lasted for about two months, began in February and ended on March 27. During that period, several assurances and promises were made concerning disciplinary and investigative matters, but many of them remain unfulfilled.

As lawmakers return for the new meeting, attention is also expected to focus heavily on the arrest of the member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, who is expected to appear in court tomorrow in Amsterdam. The MP is currently awaiting a decision on whether he will be extradited to the United States or released to return to Ghana and continue his parliamentary duties.

This development is also expected to raise constitutional and procedural questions within Parliament, particularly regarding what happens if the MP remains absent from the House without official communication to the Speaker. Will the speaker declare the seat vacant if the absence extends beyond the constitutionally allowed period without permission, potentially triggering a by-election?

The upcoming sitting is also expected to feature the presentation of the mid-year budget review by the Finance Minister. The meeting is expected to run until the end of July, with lawmakers anticipated to address both pending controversies from the previous session and fresh national matters.

Government is exploring partnerships to re-establish national airline – Transport Minister

By
Ivy Hollys
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joseph nikpe transport minister on new national airline

As part of efforts to re-establish Ghana’s national airline, transport minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe says the government is engaging Boeing and other stakeholders.

Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday, May 20, the minister said a task force set up by the government is currently working with interested international partners toward the revival of a Ghanaian national carrier.

According to him, recent discussions involving Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States and aircraft manufacturer Boeing form part of those efforts.

“This is a topic that is interesting to every Ghanaian. We want to have that pride of having our national flag being flown in the air,” the minister stated.

He explained that the task force has been mandated to engage entities interested in doing business with the Government of Ghana in relation to the proposed national airline project.

Mr. Nikpe revealed that as recently as Monday, the chairman of the task force, together with Ghana’s ambassador to the United States held discussions with Boeing executives on possible areas of collaboration with Ghana.

While declining to provide details of the engagement, he maintained that the discussions form part of ongoing activities aimed at re-establishing a national airline (carrier).

The minister also clarified concerns surrounding the recently launched Air Ghana aircraft, stating that it is not a state-owned airline.

According to him, Air Ghana is a privately owned cargo transport company seeking to operate within the sub-region.

He added that although the company currently focuses on cargo services, there are plans to eventually introduce passenger transport operations.

Mr. Nikpe noted that the government is willing to collaborate with the private company to help strengthen Ghana’s cargo transport services, but stressed that it is not part of any government national airline initiative.

All you need to know about Abena Osei-Asare and Sam George Clash at PAC

By
Ivy Hollys
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abena osei-asare vs sam george at pac

A heated exchange erupted between Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George and Public Accounts Committee Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare during proceedings of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, May 18, over the persistent issue of poor network connectivity across the country.

The tense moment occurred while the minister was responding to questions on the quality of telecommunications services, particularly the performance of telecom giant MTN.

Presenting figures before the committee, Sam George disclosed that MTN rolled out 134 new network sites in 2016, 352 in 2017, 300 in 2018, and 352 in 2019. According to him, the numbers declined significantly in recent years, with only 30 sites added in 2024 and 50 in 2025.

He, however, stated that government directives issued this year had compelled telecom operators to scale up infrastructure expansion.

“With our directive this year, they are doing 800 new sites,” he told the committee.

But Abena Osei-Asare questioned whether the investments being made by MTN matched the revenue the company generated from subscribers.

“So with all this that is going on, the monies that they get from users, is it commensurate with the infrastructure that they are building? Absolutely no,” she argued.

The PAC Chairperson further expressed frustration over poor connectivity in her constituency, saying residents struggled to make MTN calls.

“In my constituency, minister, it’s like you just cannot make an MTN call,” she stated.

Responding, Sam George insisted the current administration was dealing with the effects of years of inaction in the telecom sector.

“Madam Chair, we are dealing with a decade of rot and lack of action,” he said, adding that telecom companies naturally prioritize profits unless regulators enforce stricter standards.

The exchange became increasingly heated after the minister accused some committee members of interrupting him while he attempted to respond.

“If it’s your committee, then don’t invite us. But if you invite us to ask us a question, if you ask us a question, you listen to us as well. It’s not a monologue,” Sam George remarked during the proceedings.

Abena Osei-Asare, however, maintained that the committee was only emphasizing the seriousness of the situation facing Ghanaians.

“When you come here and we address issues, it is not that we want to talk anybody down, never. But minister, the situation is serious,” she responded.

The Communications Minister later explained that although directives had been issued for telecom operators to improve their networks, the process involved technical and logistical procedures that could not produce immediate results.

According to him, MTN is expected to roll out 800 new sites while Telecel is set to add 350 sites this year.

“Serious situations require serious actions,” he said, noting that equipment procurement and installation take time before consumers begin to experience improvements in service quality.

Following the tense exchange, Sam George downplayed suggestions of hostility between himself and Abena Osei-Asare, describing her as a friend.

“Abena is a friend and maybe that’s part of the reason why our exchanges are very heated, because we do this in our regular conversations,” he said after the session.

The minister added that tough questioning was part of parliamentary oversight and acknowledged that he had similarly scrutinized ministers when he previously served on the committee.

“I’ve sat on this committee for eight years. I’ve been someone that has toughly questioned people. And I know that my colleagues are only returning the favor for what I did to NPP ministers,” he stated.

Sam George stressed that there were no hard feelings after the exchange, revealing that the lawmakers were in good spirits after the session.

“You saw after the program, the three of us huddling together and laughing. No hard feelings, no bad blood. I’m going to join them for lunch,” he added.

Ghana Standards Authority shuts down sections of Ashaiman china mall warehouse

By
Ivy Hollys
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ghana standards authority

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has shut down sections of the Ashaiman China Mall warehouse over suspected substandard products.

The affected products include mattresses and electrical appliances believed to have been manufactured with inferior materials.

The exercise formed part of the Authority’s second day of operations aimed at clamping down on companies producing and distributing substandard goods on the Ghanaian market.

Speaking during a media engagement after the operation on Tuesday, May 19, the Regional Manager of the Ghana Standards Authority, Clement Kubati, disclosed that some products, including electrical bulbs and mattresses, failed quality tests conducted by the Authority.

The Authority says the exercise forms part of efforts to protect consumers and ensure that products sold on the market meet approved safety and quality standards.

Ghana’s public debt rises to GH¢674.1 billion in February 2026

By
Ivy Hollys
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ghana's public debt gdp

Ghana’s public debt stock increased to GH¢674.1 billion as of February 2026, according to the latest Summary of Economic and Financial Data released by the Bank of Ghana.

The figure represents 42.2 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In dollar terms, the public debt stock stood at US$63.1 billion in February 2026.

The data showed that Ghana’s debt stood at US$61.3 billion, equivalent to GH¢641.1 billion, in December 2025. In January 2026, the figure increased to US$60.6 billion or GH¢663.4 billion.

Despite the increase in the debt stock, the debt-to-GDP ratio in December 2025 stood at 44.7 percent.

According to the report, Ghana’s external debt stood at US$29.3 billion in February 2026, slightly lower than the US$29.4 billion recorded previously. This represents 19.6 percent of GDP.

However, domestic debt rose sharply to GH¢360.4 billion in February 2026 from GH¢341.0 billion in January, accounting for about 22.6 percent of GDP.

Rent Control freezes hostel fee increases for 2026/2027 academic year

By
Ivy Hollys
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hostel fees

The office of the rent commissioner and the rent control department have directed all private student hostel operators across Ghana to suspend any planned increases in accommodation fees for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The directive follows growing concerns over the rising cost of student housing across the country.

In a statement issued on May 19, the acting Rent Commissioner and Head of the Rent Control Department, Frederick Opoku, announced a temporary freeze on all proposed hostel fee increments in and around tertiary institutions nationwide until further notice.

According to the department, the decision comes after mounting public complaints over what it described as persistent and excessive increases in hostel accommodation charges by private operators.

The department warned that the continuous hikes are placing significant financial pressure on students, parents, and guardians.

Speaking on the issue, Kwame Owusu Danso, running mate to Alan Kyerematen in the 2024 election, lawyer, and executive director of Lands and Mines Watch, also weighed in on the development.

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