Author: THE NEW REPUBLIC

By Leo Nelson In a decisive show of confidence, Ghanaian legislator Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings has been elected as the 2nd Vice President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP). The election, held during the ongoing session of the continental body, saw Rawlings secure a commanding 131 votes against 51 for her opponent. The vote underscores the broad support for Rawlings among the parliamentarians representing the African Union’s 55 member states. Her election to the bureau’s third-highest office marks a significant milestone, not only for Ghana’s representation but also for the push for greater youth and female leadership within the continental legislative…

By Lawrence Odoom/Phalonzy Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance and Economic Advisor to the Vice President, Sharif Mahmud Khalid, has advocated for a more dispassionate and technically grounded evaluation of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, cautioning that the discourse must transcend fixation on headline losses to interrogate substantive economic outcomes. Speaking on The KeyPoints with Alfred Ocansey, Prof. Khalid commended the Bank of Ghana for its proactive public engagement on the programme’s performance. “I must commend the central bank for dispatching key officials to engage the public. That level of transparency is important,” he stated. He observed that prevailing narratives…

By Lawrence Odoom/Phalonzy A former Volta Regional Chairman of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), Daniel Danso, has called for a paradigm shift from abstract macroeconomic metrics to concrete, lived improvements in the welfare of workers, cautioning that fiscal stability is rendered inconsequential without employment creation, income growth, and sustainable livelihoods. Addressing the Oti Region May Day commemoration of CLOGSAG in Kadjebi, Mr. Danso asserted that the period of economic sacrifice must now culminate in tangible dividends for the citizenry. “Macroeconomic stability alone is meaningless unless it translates into jobs, increased incomes, and sustainable livelihoods for citizens,”…

By Leo Nelson Across Africa, a quiet but consequential exodus is unfolding. From doctors and engineers to academics and IT professionals, thousands of highly skilled workers are leaving the continent each year in search of better opportunities abroad. This growing phenomenon—widely referred to as “brain drain”—is raising concerns among policymakers, economists, and development experts about its long-term impact on Africa’s growth and self-reliance. Brain drain is not new. For decades, African professionals have migrated to Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. However, recent trends suggest the pace is accelerating, driven by a mix of economic hardship, limited career opportunities,…

By Leo Nelson Ghana plans to launch a new economic policy that will channel annual investment equivalent to 1% of gross domestic product (GDP) into selected high-growth sectors to boost jobs and reshape its development strategy, President John Dramani Mahama said on Friday. Addressing workers at the 2026 May Day celebrations at Jackson Park in Koforidua, Mahama said Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson would soon present the policy to Cabinet and Parliament, positioning it as a central pillar of the government’s broader economic transformation agenda. Mahama said the initiative would prioritise sectors with strong capacity for growth and employment creation,…

By Lawrence Odoom/Phalonzy As part of a structured framework to institutionalize accountability and enforce rigorous oversight on the execution of state commitments, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has unveiled the establishment of a Presidential Delivery Unit at the Office of the President. The unit is mandated to conduct monthly audits of government pledges, projects, and policy pronouncements to monitor implementation, assess progress, and verify completion. Mr. Debrah made the disclosure during a town hall engagement in Koforidua, where he reiterated the administration’s resolve to recalibrate critical sectors of the national economy under President John Dramani Mahama’s governance reset agenda. “My…

By Leo Nelson The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has called on Ghanaians to actively participate in governance and national development to help accelerate the country’s socio-economic transformation. Speaking at the Government’s Citizen Engagement Tour held in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, Debrah said the administration of President John Dramani Mahama remained committed to transparency, accountability and people-centered governance. The engagement formed part of a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between government and citizens while providing a platform for the public to interact directly with state officials on key national policies and development programmes. Addressing a gathering of…

As part of government’s Resetting Ghana Tour in the Eastern Region, President John Dramani Mahama has engaged citizens in Koforidua, outlining key reforms and development priorities. He highlighted strengthened decentralisation, noting that 80% of the District Assemblies Common Fund is now transferred directly to assemblies to improve local development and reduce delays in project execution. On the economy, the President reported a reduction in the debt-to-GDP ratio from 67% to 45%, signalling improved stability and a shift in focus from stabilisation to growth and job creation under a new investment-driven policy framework. He also pointed to major infrastructure progress, including…

By Leo Nelson President John Dramani Mahama has described the proposed 24-hour economy policy as a flagship strategy under his government’s broader economic transformation agenda aimed at boosting productivity, creating jobs and accelerating national growth. According to the President, the policy is designed to maximise the productive use of the country’s human and industrial resources by encouraging businesses and public institutions to operate in shifts around the clock. Speaking at the 2026 May Day Celebration in Koforidua, Mahama said the initiative would open up employment opportunities for thousands of young people while improving efficiency across key sectors of the economy.…

By Leo Nelson Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister, Ahmed Ibrahim has asserted that the current administration has provided a definitive masterclass in national governance for future academic study. He said that under the reign of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, the current government has been able to meet all its goals. The Minister highlighted the disciplined nature of the executive arm, noting that coaching from the Chief of Staff ensured that no minister faced any corruption scandals. President Mahama received praise for his strategic vision during the ongoing “Resetting Ghana” national agenda. Minister Ibrahim explained that the governance…