Ghana’s economic policy debate took a sharper political turn on February 22, 2026, when Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minority Spokesperson on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, launched a broad critique of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing the government of prioritising political messaging over substantive economic reforms.
Speaking during a live appearance on Hot Issues on TV3 Ghana, Oppong Nkrumah argued that national discussions on the economy, the 2026 Budget, and the cocoa sector had become deeply polarised, with the government more focused on political confrontation than policy learning.
“Due to the partisan nature of politics, the NDC is more interested in debating us than listening to our confessed mistakes,” he said, adding that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had openly acknowledged its past governance failures in an effort to prevent the current administration from repeating similar errors.
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Following the 2024 general elections and the return of the NDC to power, the political balance in the Parliament of Ghana shifted, placing the NPP in opposition.
As part of this transition, Oppong Nkrumah assumed the role of Ranking Member on the Economy and Development Committee, positioning him at the centre of parliamentary scrutiny of government economic policy.
Since taking up the role, he has consistently framed the NPP’s posture as one of constructive opposition, arguing that the party’s electoral defeat reflected unmet public expectations and governance shortcomings that must now be addressed openly.
According to him, the opposition’s strategy is not merely to criticise but to share lessons from past mistakes to prevent recurring cycles of economic mismanagement, debt accumulation, and policy inconsistency.
A major pillar of Oppong Nkrumah’s critique has centred on the NDC’s flagship 24-hour economy policy.
He has repeatedly questioned the credibility and feasibility of the programme, particularly after Parliament passed the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill, 2025, which established a statutory body to coordinate its implementation.
Oppong Nkrumah argued that the legislation lacks enforceable provisions compelling public institutions or private enterprises to operate on a 24-hour basis. He further noted that the law does not provide a clear operational framework for the much-publicised “1-3-3” shift system that featured prominently in the government’s campaign.
According to him, the Authority risks becoming a symbolic institution that creates the appearance of progress without delivering meaningful economic transformation—especially for young people who were promised mass job creation through round-the-clock economic activity.
Beyond the 24-hour economy, Oppong Nkrumah placed the cocoa sector at the centre of his criticism, describing it as a reflection of deeper fiscal and governance challenges.
He disclosed that the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) owes Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) an estimated GH¢10 billion for cocoa beans supplied between November 2025 and February 2026.
According to him, the debt affects cocoa purchased from about one million farmers nationwide, at an average price of GH¢3,625 per bag.
Although COCOBOD has announced payments totalling about GH¢1.091 billion—including GH¢237 million for 50,000 metric tonnes of cocoa and a subsequent GH¢854 million disbursement—Oppong Nkrumah described the amount as “a drop in the ocean” compared to the outstanding liabilities.
He argued that government emphasis on long-term reforms and new policy announcements rings hollow while existing financial obligations to farmers and buying companies remain largely unpaid.
In his broader assessment, Oppong Nkrumah accused the NDC administration of relying heavily on public relations campaigns and political symbolism rather than tackling core structural challenges.
He cited persistent liquidity constraints, rising public debt, limited agricultural financing, youth unemployment, and weak production capacity as critical issues requiring urgent attention.
According to him, major government initiatives are often launched with extensive publicity but weak implementation frameworks, leaving citizens with policy slogans instead of tangible improvements in livelihoods.
He warned that this approach risks deepening public frustration, particularly among young people and rural communities who were mobilised by campaign promises of economic transformation, job creation, and sectoral reform.