As Ghana’s 8th Parliament draws to a close, Hon. Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Essiam delivered a powerful final address reflecting on the unprecedented challenges and achievements of the legislative body.
Dr. Forson began by commending Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin for his exceptional leadership during a period marked by Ghana’s first hung Parliament under the Fourth Republic.
“You came after a long tradition of competent speakers, however, none of your forebears were burdened with a hung parliament such as yours. You were the 1st speaker elected from a party that is not in government, but you were well prepared for it.
From your days, Mr Speaker, as a minority leader, a majority leader, and a deputy speaker, your wisdom, patience, and calmness, even under pressure, have been an anchor for this house, especially during turbulent times. Again, your ability to manage this parliament with fairness, even in most challenging circumstances, has made you an outstanding statesman.”
Hon. Dr Cassieil Ato Forson, Minority Leader and MP for Ajumako Enyan Essiam
The Leader of the National Democratic Congress Caucus in Parliament strongly noted that Speaker Bagbin’s ability to manage the 8th Parliament with remarkable statesmanship, even in the most challenging circumstances is commendable.
He added that Speaker Bagbin’s legacy will be defined by his ability to maintain the dignity and independence of the House amid turbulent times.
A Historic Parliament
Reflecting on the uniqueness of the 8th Parliament, Dr. Forson highlighted the even split of 137 seats between the two major political parties, the presence of 40 female MPs, and an independent MP who served as the Second Deputy Speaker.
He described the Parliament’s tenure as a “roller-coaster journey,” citing the dramatic election of the Speaker, which saw military intervention, as a significant moment in Ghana’s democratic history.
“From the very start, the house was set for a roller-coaster journey, particularly during the election of the Speaker of Parliament; that faithful night kept the nation at edge with many fearing for the safety of the country’s democracy on the event that climaxed by the regrettable and unwarranted invasion of the military in the House which will remain a blight on the nations democratic history, and it’s my hope that such moment is ever repeated.”
Hon. Dr Cassieil Ato Forson, Minority Leader and MP for Ajumako Enyan Essiam
Key Legislative Battles and Opposition Efforts
The Minority Leader recounted the critical role his caucus played in opposing policies that they believed were detrimental to Ghanaians.
He spotlighted the heated debate over the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), which the Minority strongly opposed as an unjust tax burden. Despite their resistance, the bill was passed, and Dr. Forson argued that its implementation has stifled business growth and imposed undue hardship on citizens.
He also criticized the government’s imposition of over 40 new taxes, reckless borrowing, and alleged economic mismanagement, which he claimed have plunged Ghana into unsustainable public debt and inflation.
“At the same time, we witnessed proposals that that was supposed to grant $450,000,000 in tax exemptions to cronny businesses. In the spirit of patriotism, Mr. Speaker, we demanded justification of this request. Mr. Speaker, we demand justification of this request, especially as Ghanaians continue to suffer from extreme hardship.
“I believe that posterity will surely vindicate our warnings regarding the reckless borrowings and economic mismanagement under the President, Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Dr Mahamaudu Bawumia government.”
Hon. Dr Cassieil Ato Forson, Minority Leader and MP for Ajumako Enyan Essiam
He further accused government officials of profiting from dubious financial transactions, citing $159.3 million in transaction advisory fees as an example.
Concerns Over State Institutions and Corruption
Dr. Forson expressed grave concerns over the erosion of independence in critical state institutions, which he argued had been compromised by partisan appointments.
He pointed to alleged mismanagement at the Bank of Ghana, where illegal money printing and questionable expenditures have reportedly contributed to an inflationary crisis and extreme poverty for over 850,000 Ghanaians.
“We also spoke out against the mismanagement of the central bank, which led to the negative equity of GHS 55,100,000,000 in 2022 and accumulative loss of GHS 71.3000000000 between 2022 and 2023. Mr. Speaker, as a result, the Bank of Ghana became policy insolvent by end of year 2023.”
Hon. Dr Cassieil Ato Forson, Minority Leader and MP for Ajumako Enyan Essiam
Dr Ato Forson also argued that the Bank of Ghana’s unauthorized debt write-offs of the government are blatant violations of the Public Financial Management Act.
He pointed out that at the height of this crisis, the management of the central bank saw the award of questionable contracts for the construction of an ultra-modern $250 Bank of Ghana new headquarters and another ultra-modern construction of the Bank of Ghana Governor’s residence at a cost that is not known.
Dr Ato Forson also recounted his caucus’s concerns about the mismanagement of the state-owned Ghana Cocobod, ECG, STC, and PBC, among others, which was also ignored by the outgoing government.
He pointed out that for seven consecutive years, Ghana Cocobod recorded losses of approximately GHS 11 billion while cocoa production has declined drastically from 1,000,000 metric tons a year to now almost 400,000 metric tons.
He disclosed that for the first time in 32 years, international banks rejected the Ghana Cocoa Board’s request for a syndicated loan for the purchase of cocoa.
Corruption and Governance Failures
Dr Forson decried what he described as rampant corruption under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration, including alleged misuse of COVID-19 funds, the GHS 500 million National Service ghost names scandal, and attempts to privatize state-owned assets for personal gain.
He also criticized the government’s handling of illegal mining, or “galamsey,” which he argued has devastated the environment while high-ranking officials allegedly turned a blind eye or actively participated.
“Mr Speaker, we also raise red flags over dubious Finance Ministry-SML induced $100 million contract for a so-called revenue assurance. After several calls on President Akufo-Addo to release the KPMG audit report it finally revealed that the SML was paid a whopping GHS 1,400,000,000 for no work done.
“Mr Speaker the authority to hold taxes with GHS 13,380,000,000 from these payments as we speak. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the entity called SML is still raking off the taxpayer for no work done.”
Hon. Dr Cassieil Ato Forson, Minority Leader and MP for Ajumako Enyan Essiam
Dr. Ato Forson also underscored the Minority’s efforts to protect the democratic rights of Ghanaians, particularly during debates over voter registration processes.
He noted the Minority’s resistance to the Electoral Commission’s initial decision to adopt the Ghana Card as the sole document for voter registration, which he said would have disenfranchised millions.
Government Mismanagement and Personal Persecution
Moreover, Dr. Forson indicated that the past eight years under the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had been an “excruciating lesson on how not to govern a country and an example of how not to run an economy.”
He added that the overwhelming defeat suffered by the NPP in the recently concluded elections was an unequivocal message from the Ghanaian people rejecting the government’s economic and political performance. “The people of Ghana have spoken loudly; they will not tolerate such mismanagement and poor governance any longer,” he declared.
The Struggles of Opposition Leadership
Dr. Forson didn’t shy away from addressing the personal toll he endured for his stance as a vocal critic of the government. He reflected on the legal battles he faced, which he argued were politically motivated attempts to silence him.
“My prosecution was calculated to intimidate, silence, and extinguish a dissenting voice,” Dr Ato Forson asserted, detailing how he was charged under questionable circumstances. He pointed to the timing of his prosecution, which coincided with the national outcry over the E-levy and the rejection of the 2022 budget.
Dr Forson revealed that he was charged with criminal offences on Christmas Eve, just days after his public opposition to key government policies. “This was no coincidence. It was a clear attempt to target me for speaking out against an administration that was mismanaging the economy”, he remarked.
Dr. Forson went on to accuse the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, of employing unscrupulous methods in his pursuit of a conviction. He alleged that the Attorney General had engaged in an effort to “coach, cajole, and coerce” another accused person to falsify testimony in a bid to secure a conviction at all costs.
“In doing so, the Attorney General, the principal legal officer of the state, engaged in acts of criminality to please the regime,” Dr Forson charged. His words were a direct attack on the integrity of the justice system under the Akufo-Addo government, highlighting what he termed as a politically biased and corrupt use of prosecutorial powers.
Acknowledging the Strength of the NDC Caucus
Despite the challenges, Dr Ato Forson expressed pride in the NDC’s leadership and their consistent fight for the nation’s best interests in the 8th Parliament.
He extended his heartfelt congratulations to the leadership of the NDC for their exemplary stewardship, especially during a time when the party faced the unique challenges of a hung parliament.
Special thanks were given to key leaders within the NDC, including Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah (Deputy Minority Leader), Hon. Kwame Agbodza (Minority Whip), Hon. Ibrahim Ahmed (1st Deputy Whip), and Hon. Comfort Doyee (2nd Deputy Whip), who, Dr Ato Forson emphasized, had worked tirelessly to represent the party and Ghanaian citizens.
He also acknowledged the hard work of Hon. Collins Dauda, a veteran parliamentarian who had contested every election since 1992, and had been a staunch ally in the parliament’s proceedings.
The Minority Leader did not forget to recognize the contributions of the parliamentary service and the parliamentary press corps. He expressed immense gratitude to the journalists who had been pivotal in keeping the public informed, saying, “What would we have done without you? You have been an amazing group of people that we cannot thank enough“, he remarked.
A Bitter Critique of Government and a Call for Hope
As his address neared its conclusion, Dr. Ato Forson turned his attention once again to the governance failures of the Akufo-Addo administration.
He described the last eight years as a time of “mismanagement,” with Ghana facing a severe economic crisis that, he argued, was exacerbated by irresponsible government policies. He reiterated the widespread dissatisfaction among the citizenry and the profound challenges that had led to the party’s electoral defeat.
Despite his strong criticisms, Dr. Ato Forson offered a hopeful message to Ghanaians. “Fellow countrymen and women, thank you for enduring the worst government in Ghana’s history,” he said, before calling on the people to hold on to hope for a better future.
“There is hope,” Dr Forson proclaimed, urging the people of Ghana to remain optimistic and united in their pursuit of change. Dr. Forson concluded his address with a statement of solidarity with the NDC leadership and the outgoing parliamentarians.
He encouraged those who would not be part of the 9th Parliament to walk with their heads high, affirming that their contributions, no matter how challenging, had been meaningful.
His call for hope amidst the failures of the current government highlighted his unwavering commitment to the cause of democracy and good governance in Ghana.
