President Mahama Directs Infrastructure Quality Checks as NPP Minority and Civil Society Demand Greater Transparency

The Ghanaian political landscape in mid-2026 is being defined by a intensified push for transparency across the legislative, infrastructure, and utility sectors. President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stern directive to road engineers and contractors involved in the government's "Big Push" infrastructure projects, mandating strict quality assessments before any payments are approved. This move aims to ensure value for money and enhance the durability of national assets. However, the administration simultaneously faces sharp criticism from the NPP Minority Transport Policy Committee, which has raised concerns over the acquisition of refurbished diesel locomotives and freight wagons for the Tema–Mpakadan railway line. The Minority has labeled the equipment as outdated relics of the "Margaret Thatcher era," demanding full disclosure regarding the costs, maintenance plans, and operational lifespan of the investments.

On the legislative front, Parliamentary Network Africa has proposed a significant reform to the law-making process, calling for the Executive to provide formal written justifications for any bills submitted under a Certificate of Urgency. This recommendation follows findings that 34 out of 39 bills passed in the Ninth Parliament were expedited, effectively bypassing standard gazette requirements and public scrutiny. The advocacy group argues that amending Rule 160 of the Standing Orders is essential to clarify when urgency can be invoked. This call for institutional integrity aligns with Vice-President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang's recent address at the 2026 National Labour Conference in Ho, where she urged organized labour to lead the fight against absenteeism and corruption while fostering a spirit of renewed patriotism to bolster the post-crisis economy.

Transparency concerns have also extended to utility pricing, with energy analysts and the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) urging the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to adopt more transparent tariff-setting frameworks. Following a 3.49% increase in electricity tariffs and a 0.85% hike in water rates for the third quarter of 2026, experts are calling for PURC to emulate the National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA) model by disclosing the weighting of factors such as inflation and exchange rates. While the Chinese government has commended Ghana's pursuit of energy self-reliance, domestic stakeholders remain focused on ensuring that the cost of such independence is clearly communicated to the public.

In the natural resources sector, the discourse is shifting toward sustainable development and regulatory enforcement. Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, speaking at the launch of the 10-Year PEARL Framework, warned against the "resource curse" in the Upper East Region, advocating for mineral wealth to be used as a catalyst for agriculture and industry rather than a sole development strategy. This long-term vision contrasts with the immediate crisis in Wassa Dadiese, where Kofreze Construction & Engineering Company has made an urgent appeal for presidential intervention. The firm reports that illegal mining (galamsey) operators have overrun their legal concessions, citing a total failure of oversight by the Minerals Commission and the EPA, and warning of potential civil unrest if the state does not act decisively to protect legal mining interests.