Minority Slams President Mahama’s GHS149 Million Allocation to Research, Communications

Accra, March 14, 2025 – The Minority in Parliament has criticized President John Mahama’s decision to allocate GHS149 million to research and communications teams, arguing that the amount exceeds the budget of multiple ministries under former President Akufo-Addo’s administration.

Concerns Over Excessive Spending

Speaking at a press briefing, Gideon Boako, Member of Parliament for Tano North, described the allocation as unnecessary and excessive.

🔹 “President Mahama is allocating GHS50 million for goods and services for the research department and GHS20 million for capital expenditure. The Office of Government Machinery, which may consist of just a head and office assistants, is receiving GHS70 million,” he noted.

🔹 He also questioned the GHS78.8 million assigned to government communication, led by Felix Ofosu Kwakye and Shamima Muslim, arguing that their work primarily involves monitoring social media and responding to public discourse.

🔹 “They are giving them a goods and services budget of GHS8.8 million, and then an additional GHS70 million, making it GHS78.8 million. Maybe some will be used to buy internet data to respond to what the Minority is saying,” Boako said.

Contradiction to Lean Government Promise

The Minority insists that these figures contradict President Mahama’s commitment to a lean government, as the allocations exceed the budgets of three or four ministries combined under the previous administration.

🔹 “This is not the lean government Ghanaians voted for,” Boako emphasized.

The debate over budgetary priorities is expected to intensify as Parliament continues deliberations on the 2025 fiscal plan.

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