The Minority in Parliament is raising serious concerns over the National Democratic Congress government's continued failure to submit comprehensive policy documents on major economic programs for parliamentary scrutiny and public assessment.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi and Ranking Member on the Economy and Development Committee, sounded the alarm during an appearance on Joy News.
He emphasised that without the necessary documentation, Parliament cannot adequately fulfill its constitutional oversight responsibility, and the public remains uninformed about the real workings and metrics behind these flagship programs.
A Pattern of Omission
Oppong Nkrumah highlighted what appears to be a growing pattern where major government initiatives are launched with much fanfare but without the supporting policy or program documents being presented to Parliament or made public.
He stressed that these documents are crucial for determining the viability, cost, funding structure, and performance benchmarks of any national initiative.
"From the very first meeting of Parliament, we’ve consistently called for the submission of policy documents on all major economic programs," he stated.
"Parliament is the bastion of democracy. When you make the document public and bring it before Parliament, the entire nation—including civil society, media, and the public—can participate in monitoring and improving implementation."
Key Programs Without Documentation
The Ranking Member listed at least seven major economic initiatives for which program documents are either delayed or absent.
These include:
1. 24-Hour Economy Policy Document – Promised to be released by July 1, 2025, but still pending.
2. Economic Recovery Program – No official documentation submitted.
3. Economic Transformation Agenda – Launched without a supporting framework made public.
4. Agrate for Economic Transformation Program – Launched, but the key parameters and qualification criteria remain undisclosed.
5. One Million Coup d’Etat Program – Details on structure, eligibility, and targets are not made available.
6. Ejumera Program – Unveiled on April 28, 2025, but lacking a published policy framework.
7. National Apprenticeship Program – Also among those with no formal documentation shared with Parliament.
Oppong Nkrumah expressed frustration at the government's handling of these initiatives, saying the absence of formal documents hinders effective monitoring, public accountability, and even the ability of media and civil society to track performance.
Consequences for Accountability and Governance
The Minority believes that bypassing formal documentation undermines transparency and creates room for misinformation, political propaganda, and weak program outcomes.
“If we don’t have the necessary program documents, we risk descending into a space where performance is judged based on claims and counterclaims,” Oppong Nkrumah noted.
“Some will take undue credit when external factors help, and others will deflect blame when the programs underperform.”
He urged the government to institutionalise the release of economic policy documents alongside program launches to foster collaboration, scrutiny, and success.
Hope for Change?
Despite the concerns, the Minority appears hopeful, citing the expected release of the 24-Hour Economy document on July 1 as a positive signal.
Still, they caution that isolated compliance cannot replace the consistent application of best governance practices.
