The John Dramani Mahama administration is strategically focusing on rural development in a bid to address urban challenges, including housing deficits and youth unemployment through the 2026 budget statements, Member of Parliament for Afadzato South Constituency, Honourable Frank Afriye argued.
The aim, he added is to focus attention at decentralizing development across the country by encouraging youth-led rural development through the stimulation of an agricultural-tailored local economy.
The outspoken first-time Member of Parliament made the revelation while commenting on the 2026 budget statements and Fiscal Policy of the government reinforcing that the budget was of its kind.
“Under the current administration, significant funds have been allocated to district assemblies for development projects. For example, Prestea Hony Valley received 300,000 cedis under the previous administration, but has been allocated 8.8 million cedis under the current government.
Hon. Afriye argued that the government believe in decentralizing funds to create job opportunities, incentivize local economies, and reduce rural-urban migration.
This approach aims to promote balanced development and improve the quality of life for Ghanaians.
Ghana’s economic progress under President John Mahama’s leadership has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with critics and supporters locking horns over the country’s development trajectory.
At the heart of the debate is the allocation of significant funds to district assemblies, with some municipalities seeing allocations increase tenfold.
Oforikrum, for example, received GHS1.8 million cedis under the previous administration, but has been allocated GHS16.3 million cedis under Mahama’s government.
The Afadzato South lawmaker attributed the progress to sound economic management, citing deliberate coordination between the Bank of Ghana and the Finance Ministry.
“The fruit of sound economic management is not occurring in a vacuum,” a Hon. Afriye said.
“It’s a result of leadership,”the Afadzato South legislator emphasized.
He however stated that opposition voices question the previous administration’s record, pointing to a high inflation rate of 54% and unemployment rate of 13.6% asserting “This can only happen in “Walewale College, where Adams Smith was a teacher,” a quipped, sparking laughter and applause.
The debate has also raised questions about corruption, with Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index showing Ghana’s worst score in five years.
Critics argue the current government is making progress, while supporters claim the previous administration was mired in corruption.
As Ghana’s economic transformation continues to unfold, one thing is certain – the debate will rage on, with each side fiercely defending its position.
Story by Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor
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