Patrick Boamah questions government: Where are the 800,000 jobs?

Patrick Yaw Boamah, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Okaikwei Central, has criticised the government’s management of the economy, arguing that increased revenue mobilisation must reflect in better living conditions for citizens. Improved revenue management, he said, should also ensure the timely payment of public-sector workers. Contributing to the debate on the Mid-Year Budget Review of the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy in Parliament, in Accra, on Tuesday, Mr Boamah questioned the government’s priorities despite reporting strong revenue performance.

“Mr Speaker, a government that has raised so much money and cannot even pay doctors, nurses, and teachers, and the Minister is very comfortable reporting this to us,” he said. His remarks came in response to Mr Atta Isaah, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Sagnarigu, who mounted a spirited defence of Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Minister of Finance, who challenged the Minority’s repeated claims that the Finance Minister had allegedly failed to mobilise enough revenue or adequately execute government spending. Mr Boamah also accused the government of allegedly failing to provide an update on its campaign promise to create 800,000 jobs.

Speaker, a government that promised to create 800,000 jobs could not report to us during the mid-year review. That is what the NDC Government has done,” he stated. The Okaikwei Central MP further raised concerns about development projects in the Ajumako area, the constituency of the Finance Minister.

He alleged that residents were more concerned about employment opportunities and payment of cocoa farmers than some of the projects being undertaken. He added: “Mr Speaker, the people of Ajumako need jobs, but he decided to send them military barracks. “The cocoa farmers in Ajumako want to be paid.

And that is what Ghanaians want.” The MP also questioned the decision to site an alleged specialist hospital project in the area, insisting that job creation and economic opportunities should remain the priority. Mr Boamah referenced the Tree Crop Development Authority Act passed by Parliament to support crops including oil palm. He, however, criticised what he described as an alleged disconnect between the government’s policy commitments and implementation, recalling that the 2026 Budget outlined plans to invest more than US$500 milli…