We are reforming systems, fighting corruption and improving use of public funds – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that his administration is actively reforming Ghana's governance systems to increase accountability, combat corruption and ensure better use of public funds for the well-being of citizens. Speaking at the Accra Reset event in New York, Mahama highlighted the government's efforts to review systems and financial arrangements within the public sector, aiming to enhance transparency and channel public resources towards their intended purposes.

The President emphasized that reforming Ghana's governance systems, particularly in areas of accountability, public finances and management of national resources, remains a key priority. He stated, "In Ghana, we are reforming our systems. We are making government more accountable. We are fighting corruption, and we are making more efficient use of our resources than we did in the past."

One of the first measures taken by Mahama's administration was to uncouple funding for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which he criticized for being capped by the previous government. This move, he argued, restricted the resources available to essential institutions like the NHIS. Mahama alleged that the excess funds, when they exceeded a certain percentage of the national budget, were instead channeled into the Consolidated Fund, a practice he claimed was often used to support politically motivated projects rather than public welfare.

According to Mahama, this alleged practice of diverting funds into the Consolidated Fund was primarily aimed at securing political patronage and boosting the government's electoral prospects. He further explained that if funds exceeded a predetermined budgetary threshold, they would be transferred to the Consolidated Fund, which was then utilized for initiatives designed to bolster political support rather than advancing public interests.