Parliamentary Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has mounted a fierce defense of the government’s economic management, challenging the Opposition to back calls for former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to return to Ghana and account for the nation's accumulated debt burden.
Contributing to a heated debate on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review on Thursday, July 23, the Bawku Central lawmaker questioned Ofori-Atta’s presence in the United States, accusing the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration of reckless spending that left ordinary Ghanaians paying the price.
'Bring Him Back to Account'
Directing his remarks at the Minority bench, Ayariga questioned why the architect of the country's past debt profile is currently out of the country while citizens work to repair the economy.
"Where is the man who put us in debt? Where is Ken Ofori-Atta? After borrowing recklessly and creating the debt, he has gone and is hiding in the United States of America. We must bring Ken Ofori-Atta back," Ayariga declared on the floor of the House.
"Ken Ofori-Atta should be brought back to account to the good people of Ghana for why he so grossly mismanaged our finances and left ordinary Ghanaians to struggle to fix the economy while he enjoys himself in the United States."
Fiscal Contrast: Heavy Taxes vs. Tax Abolition
Ayariga drew a sharp line between past economic management and current policy under Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. He noted that while the previous leadership insisted the economy could not survive without aggressive taxation—such as levies on mobile money transactions—the current administration has managed to stabilize finances while removing those burdens.
Under Ofori-Atta: Reliance on heavy domestic and foreign borrowing alongside controversial revenue measures like the E-Levy.
Under Dr. Ato Forson: Abolition of nuisance taxes, no reckless borrowing, and fiscal stabilization.
"We were in this country, in this Parliament, and there was a Finance Minister who told us that he could not run this economy without taxing our mobile money transfers," Ayariga noted. "Today, we have a Finance Minister who has abolished all those taxes, and yet he is successfully managing our economy."
Shifting Priorities: Classrooms Over Cathedrals
The Majority Leader also criticized the previous administration's development focus, arguing that the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review demonstrates a clear shift back to essential public infrastructure.
Rather than directing state resources into controversial flagship efforts like the National Cathedral, Ayariga stated that funds are now being funneled into expanding educational infrastructure, upgrading existing schools, and constructing major road networks across the country.
Concluding his address, Ayariga declared that "Ghana is working again" under Dr. Forson’s stewardship, urging Parliament to formally commend the Finance Minister even as Minority MPs continue to challenge key elements of the mid-year review.
