ghananlpcommunity/ghana-gov-speeches-sentences huggingface dataset:
The Ministry has received Cabinet approval to reintroduce tolling on roads and bridges nationwide, using advanced technology to improve efficiency, transparency, and revenue generation.
Preparatory work is underway to ensure the reintroduction of tolling operations this year.
Mr Speaker, there is no doubt that an effective and efficient transport system is integral to any economic development plan.
To improve public transport services in the country, government is supporting Intercity STC Coaches Limited (ISTC), Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL), and Private Road Transport Operators in renewing their fleets.
A total of 300 buses have been purchased to improve road transport.
The initial batch of 100 buses is scheduled to arrive in the country by the end of the first quarter of this year.
Mr Speaker, in fulfilment of my pledge to re-establish a national airline, a ten-member task force established to oversee this initiative has submitted a business model and operational framework to guide the selection of a strategic partner for the National Airline.
And it shall surely come to pass soon.
Passenger traffic handled by the Ghana Airports Company increased to 3.625 million in 2025, from 3.4 million in 2024.
In response to rising passenger traffic and congestion at Accra International Airport's new Terminal 3, we are remodelling Terminal 2 into a dual-purpose facility to serve both domestic and international flights, thereby improving operational efficiency and enhancing the overall passenger experience.
Terminal 3 remains among the best in Africa.
A new concourse will link Terminal 2 to Terminal 3, supported by a multi-tier 7-floor car park, an airport hotel, and retail amenities, as well as runway expansion and overlay.
We will begin work on new regional airports in Sunyani, Bolgatanga and Wa.
Mr Speaker, we are working to fully operationalise the Tema-Mpakadan rail line to maximise passenger and freight traffic between Tema and the North using the Volta Lake waterway.
The Western and Eastern Railway Lines will continue to be modernised in partnership with the private sector.
These projects aim to support the efficient transport of containers and bulk cargo to and from the ports, as well as to facilitate the efficient haulage of minerals from the mines in Nsuta, Awaso, and Nyinahin to the Takoradi Port, while providing passenger transport along the respective corridors.
Mr Speaker, as part of the 24-Hour Economy initiative, a new 24-hour operation has started at Tema Port, allowing access to port services around the clock.
This development enables importers to clear goods at any time, significantly easing congestion at terminals like Transit, Reefer, and the Golden Jubilee Terminal.
The initiative brings together customs, banking, and other relevant agencies to enhance efficiency, lower transaction costs, and boost Ghana's competitiveness as a major trade hub.
Cabinet has reviewed the designs and the feasibility study for the Keta Port and directed the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to present an action plan and a roadmap for the realisation of the project at the earliest possible time.
Similarly, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, as part of its expansion effort, has established a new operational office at the Adenta Bus Terminal in Accra.
This modern facility operates around the clock, providing continuous services to improve accessibility and convenience for motorists in the Adentan Municipality and nearby areas.
Mr Speaker, under the Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project, implemented through the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) to extend voice and data connectivity to unserved and underserved communities, we targeted the construction of 2,016 Cell Sites.
1,561 Cell Sites have been constructed.
Of this number, 1,144 have been activated.
Work is ongoing to activate the remaining 417 Sites.
Preparations are also well underway to commence construction of the remaining 455 Sites.
Under the School Connectivity Initiative, over 62,000 digital resources have been uploaded to the Ghana Knowledge & Skills Bank, enabling seamless access across multiple devices—PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones—for more than 600,000 users including teachers, students, and researchers.
Mr Speaker, as part of the Government’s Reset Agenda to ensure Ghanaian youth acquire essential digital skills for the modern global economy, I launched the One Million Coders Programme in March 2025.
The initiative aims to train 1 million Ghanaians in key digital areas, including Data Analytics, Data Protection, Cyber Security, the Metaverse, and Artificial Intelligence, over four years.
Phase one of the Programme, the Pilot Phase, saw hundreds of trainees complete their training programmes in person across four training centres in Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani and Bolgatanga.
Phase two, which will include virtual sessions, is set to commence this year, with expanded training centres and an increased number of beneficiaries.
It is projected that 400,000 Ghanaians will be trained this year.
Fight against corruption.
Mr Speaker, this remains a defining priority of my government and represents a central pillar of our commitment to good governance, accountability, and the prudent management of public resources.
We have made progress through strengthened collaboration among law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence institutions, and prosecutors.
These efforts have led to the initiation of criminal proceedings and asset forfeiture proceedings against some individuals and entities implicated in financial crimes against the State.
But yes, I agree with the sentiments of Ghanaians that we must press harder on the accelerator.
As of December 2025, EOCO had recovered more than GHS 600 million.
The Office has investigated 462 cases, with 15 currently under prosecution, and dismantled transnational car-jacking syndicates, recovering 29 luxury vehicles.
Mr Speaker, the Government remains resolute that corruption will not be tolerated, regardless of status or political affiliation.
The Attorney General’s Office will continue to use both criminal prosecution and non-conviction-based asset recovery mechanisms to ensure that stolen public resources are returned for national development.
I understand that a large majority of Ghanaians are impatient to see those who abused their trust in office held to account.
There were periods when, under military regimes and unconstitutional governments, extrajudicial means could be used to exact retribution against persons perceived as corrupt or who had abused the public trust.
This may have appeared as swift justice, but many regrettable excesses were recorded.
In 1992, we overwhelmingly adopted the 1992 constitution to accept governance by the rule of law.
On 7th January 2025, I swore before the people of Ghana to uphold the 1992 Constitution.
I may be as impatient as everyone else to see justice done, but painstaking investigations must be conducted, dockets must be prepared, charges must be filed, and the accused must have their day in court, including appealing even the smallest points of law to higher courts.
This process is necessary to protect us all against abuse or ill-treatment of citizens and to ensure that only those guilty of offences against the state are punished.
As President Mills of blessed memory said, “The wheels of Justice grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine.”
Let me reassert my determination to uphold the accountability of public office holders to the people of Ghana.
We have laid the Public Officers Code of Conduct Bill before Parliament.
This bill codifies the conduct of public officers and makes breaches thereof punishable.
I wish, at this juncture, to thank the Chief Justice for establishing specialised High Courts to address breaches identified in the Auditor General's report.
The constitution review process was conducted in a transparent, consultative, and participatory manner, drawing on input from constitutional experts, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, political parties, and the public.
The review committee has submitted its comprehensive report, containing detailed proposals to amend the Constitution to address identified weaknesses and make it more welfare-enhancing.
The Attorney General’s Office is working closely with relevant stakeholders to translate the recommendations into implementable legal and constitutional proposals, which will be presented to Parliament in accordance with constitutional procedures.
Mr Speaker, illegal mining continues to pose a grave threat to our environment, water bodies, public health, and national security.
Prosecution of persons engaged in illegal mining has been intensified with a renewed focus on dismantling organised criminal networks behind galamsey operations rather than targeting only low-level offenders.
In total, over 114 case dockets involving hundreds of accused persons are pending in various courts across the country, particularly in towns and villages prone to illegal mining.
Specialised prosecutorial teams have been deployed to fast-track illegal mining cases, ensure the effective presentation of evidence, and pursue the confiscation and forfeiture of equipment and proceeds used in or derived from illegal mining.
Mr Speaker, my government will continue to ensure gender equality and equity, promote the welfare and protection of children's rights, and empower the vulnerable, the aged, and persons with disabilities for sustainable national development.
Work is well advanced on the Women’s Development Bank, for which a total of GHS 401 million has been allocated in the 2026 Budget.
The coming months should see a full rollout of this monumental policy to empower Ghanaian women and women-owned businesses economically and financially.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection has successfully honoured the LEAP payment cycles for 2025, reaching 1.5 million people.
It ensures the full implementation of the Ghana School Feeding Programme in over 12,000 public schools across all 261 districts of the country.
The number of beneficiary pupils has increased from three million, eight hundred and one thousand, four hundred and ninety-one (3,801,491) for the 2023/2024 academic year to four million, two hundred and thirty-one thousand, and fifty-nine (4,231,059) for the 2024/2025 academic year.
The programme is providing gainful employment to 34,000 caterers and cooks nationwide.
Mr Speaker, in the security sector, Ghana faces evolving security threats.
Our troops, services and agencies have, however, remained firmly committed to strengthening national peace and security, which underpin our democracy, development, and social cohesion.
This commitment encompasses internal security operations, international peace support missions, strategic investments in infrastructure and retooling, and improvements in troop welfare, recruitment, and capacity development.
Two recent incidents are evidence of the increasing dangers we face as a nation.
The killing of eight of our citizens who had gone to our neighbouring country to purchase tomatoes, and an attack yesterday on Ghanaian fishermen in our waters by pirates, reinforce the need for us to retool and adequately equip our security services.
I wish to commend the Ghana Armed Forces for conducting a successful medical evacuation of our injured compatriots from Burkina Faso.
I also commend the Ghana Navy and Air Force, the National Security Council Secretariat, the Chief of Staff’s Operations Team, the MP for Awutu Senya, the Chief Fisherman and the people of Senya Bereku for the combined effort that successfully rescued the stranded 71 fishermen yesterday.
I have asked the National Security Coordinator to assist the affected fishermen and replace the stolen outboard motors and fishing gear.
The Armed Forces continues to play a key role in containing illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) through the deployment of River Guards, support for the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), and assistance to Special Courts for the swift prosecution of offenders.
Mr Speaker, during the year, the Ghana Armed Forces had 2,199 troops with requisite equipment deployed to various peacekeeping missions, reinforcing Ghana’s reputation as a dependable and professional contributor to international peace operations.
While Ghana continues to maintain an enviable reputation in international peacekeeping, we note that many of the theatres where we have operated are winding down due to reduced budgets for UN Peace Support Operations.
As our troops return home, we must create opportunities for them to train, remain active, and stay engaged.
Mr Speaker, beyond peacekeeping operations, Ghana continues to demonstrate its strong commitment to international solidarity, humanitarian assistance, and South–South cooperation.
In December 2025, the Government deployed 54 personnel from the 14 Engineers Brigade to Jamaica to support national reconstruction efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which claimed over 40 lives.
In recognition of the scale of the recovery effort, the Government approved a request from the Government of Jamaica to extend Operation BOAFO, Ghana’s humanitarian deployment, from its initial 30-day mandate to 90 days.
Mr Speaker, to further improve operational readiness, the Government will continue to invest in vital defence infrastructure and retooling.
The construction of a Forward Operating Base at Ezinlibo, situated along the western maritime corridor, is ongoing.
This facility aims to boost maritime surveillance and better protect offshore oil and gas installations.
The Northern Border Security Project, initiated to counter terrorism and transnational crime, is advancing decisively.
This project constitutes the first line of defence against infiltration and extremist threats, significantly strengthening surveillance.
Plans are well advanced to establish 2 additional military barracks in Ajumako, Central Region, and Dambai, Oti Region, to address emerging security concerns and strengthen state presence in these areas.
To further support retooling efforts, agreements have been signed to procure and deliver four helicopters and one jet for the Ghana Air Force, aimed at replacing the ageing fleet and modernising our air capabilities.
The Ghana Armed Forces is carrying out a thorough overhaul of previously grounded aircraft, which involves replacing essential components.
This aims to quickly restore operational readiness and maximise fleet availability.
Mr Speaker, I am pleased to announce that I have commissioned 50 vehicles for the Ghana Armed Forces to enhance operational mobility and boost troop morale.
It forms part of a broader government programme to retool the military and improve logistics across the services.
Plans are underway to acquire two offshore patrol vessels, armoured personnel carriers, protective gear, ammunition, vehicles, strategic drones, and advanced communication systems to enhance the operational capabilities of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Mr Speaker, we will continue to prioritise human capital development within the Forces.
A progressive recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Ghana Armed Forces by 12,000 personnel over four years to support expansion and operational demands is ongoing.
In line with the Government’s reset agenda, the recruitment process has been decentralised to regional capitals, with selected recruits reporting directly from their regions to training schools, marking a significant shift from the previous Accra-centred system.
I wish to express my condolences to the families of our young daughters who died during the stampede at the El Wak Stadium.
May their memory be blessed and may they rest in perfect peace.
Following the revised gratuity regime introduced in 2020 under Constitutional Instrument 129, arrears have accumulated because no budgetary provision was made in the four years that followed.
This has resulted in over one billion Ghana cedis owed to approximately three thousand personnel across different ranks.
Mr Speaker, as part of our commitment to fairness and the resolution of long-standing legacy issues, the Government will soon commence payment of gratuity arrears under CI 129.
Following engagements initiated by the current Military High Command with the Ministry of Finance and Defence, a structured implementation plan has been agreed upon.
This will bring closure to an issue that has been outstanding since 2020 and ensure that affected personnel receive their rightful entitlements.
The Ghana Police Service has also received 40 armoured vehicles and 100 pick-up trucks to enhance its operations.
Other security agencies, such as the Fire, Prisons, Immigration, BNI and the Narcotics Control Commission, will also be retooled to enhance their efficiency.
I wish to commend the IGP and his men for the recent major success in bringing dangerous criminals to justice.
The trust of Ghanaians in their police service is rising, and I urge you to keep up the standard.
Mr Speaker, Ghana’s foreign policy remains a central instrument for advancing our national development, safeguarding our sovereignty and projecting our values on the global stage.
At a time when the global environment is characterised by profound geopolitical shifts, economic uncertainty, climate-related challenges, and evolving security concerns within our sub-region, the Government has taken deliberate steps to ensure that Ghana’s engagement with the world is purposeful, strategic, and responsive to the needs of our people.
In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stepped up efforts to align Ghana’s external relations with our domestic development priorities.
Mr Speaker, in West Africa, Ghana continues to pursue a policy of good neighbourliness, solidarity and constructive cooperation with all countries in the sub-region.
We remain firmly committed to the vision of a peaceful, stable, prosperous and integrated West Africa, grounded in mutual respect, dialogue and collective responsibility.
We must sustain engagement and deepen relations with the AES member states, particularly following their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Ghana believes that continued dialogue and cooperation are indispensable to regional stability and that disengagement only deepens vulnerabilities.
At the continental level, Ghana continues to play an active, principled and forward-looking role in advancing the African Union’s strategic priorities.
Ghana currently holds the following prestigious positions: AU Champion on Reparations and AU Champion for African Financial Institutions.
Ghana is also the AU Champion for gender equality and women's empowerment.
Mr Speaker, I am humbled by Ghana’s election as the First Vice Chairperson of the African Union (AU) at the 39 th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
It is also gratifying to note that my colleague leaders in West Africa have declared me, John Dramani Mahama, the region’s sole candidate for the position of Chairperson of the African Union when the rotating chairmanship returns to West Africa in 2027.
Mr Speaker, during the 80 th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, I raised Ghana’s voice to call for a comprehensive ‘reset’ of the United Nations to better reflect current realities, particularly the role of Africa in global governance and fairness in international financial systems.
In line with our multilateral commitments, Ghana announced plans to table a UN resolution recognising the Transatlantic Slave Trade as the greatest crime against humanity and promoting an agenda of acknowledgement, reparative justice, and cultural restitution.
I will formally present the resolution, which has been endorsed and adopted by the African Union, to the UN in March this year for consideration by the UN General Assembly.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established 7 new Passport Application Centres in the Upper East, Oti, Ahafo, Bono East, North East, Savannah and Western North Regions.
With this expansion, all sixteen (16) regional capitals now host passport application centres, marking a major milestone in the decentralisation of passport services.
Mr Speaker, to address systemic delays, the ministry implemented a 24-hour passport production operation at the Head Office, enabling the clearance of an inherited backlog of over 40,000 passport applications.
As a result of these reforms, Ghana’s passport administration now operates with zero backlog, guaranteeing passport delivery within 15 working days nationwide.
To facilitate travel, boost tourism and ease business mobility, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs implemented a five-day visa processing service across Ghana’s Missions abroad.
Concurrently, significant progress has been made in the design and procurement phases of a national electronic visa (e-Visa) platform, with a targeted rollout planned for 2026.
Ghana has also secured new visa waiver agreements with 11 countries to facilitate people-to-people exchanges, trade, and investment.
Mr Speaker, to highlight Ghana’s ongoing commitments to international solidarity, we made significant humanitarian donations to Jamaica, Cuba, Sudan, and Palestine to support disaster relief and conflict-related crises.
These donations, amounting to millions of cedis, included food, medicine, clothing, and cocoa products.
Mr Speaker, I am pleased to report that remittances from Ghanaians abroad reached a historic high of $7.8 billion in 2025.
This is the largest annual inflow ever recorded.
This reflects not only confidence in our economy but the enduring patriotism of our citizens living and working across the world.
These remittances support households, finance education, build homes, seed businesses, and stabilise our foreign exchange position.
In many respects, our diaspora has become one of the country’s most reliable development partners, without contracts, conditionalities, or fanfare.
We must intentionally ensure that citizenship, rather than place of residence, determines one’s right to serve the Republic.
Ghanaians worldwide who pledge allegiance to this country and make substantial contributions to its development should not be barred from active participation in public affairs, including the opportunity to hold public office, provided there are appropriate measures to ensure loyalty and accountability.
I am, personally, in support of the bipartisan bill currently before Parliament seeking to address this matter.
Mr Speaker, youth development and empowerment are at the core of everything we are trying to achieve.
We are implementing many policies to develop our youth's capacity and to create as many jobs as possible to address the major unemployment problem.
All our youth activities and job creation programmes are ongoing.
In 2025, 10,887 young people were trained in entrepreneurship programmes and job creation under the Adwumawura programme.
In 2026, an additional 10,000 young people will receive similar support under the programme.
The National Apprenticeship Programme onboarded 14,000 young people during the pilot phase, and they have started receiving start-up kits.
Training is ongoing across the regions, and when completed, the trainees will be certified by the Commission for TVET to facilitate access to employment.
Mr Speaker, this year, the target for the National Apprenticeship Programme has been increased from 10,000 to 100,000 young people, offering many more young people the opportunity to acquire the skills needed for sustainable employment.
In 2025, 86,000 young people were engaged through the Youth Employment Agency (YEA)'s various employment modules.
This year, I have directed the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment to, as a matter of urgency, review all the youth employment modules under the YEA to reduce duplication and ensure value for money.
This is important to channel the resources to the advantage of the teeming youth waiting for opportunities.
The National Service Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Defence to commence military training for 10,000 National Service Personnel in the 2025/2026 service year.