Parliament has concluded debate on the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by John Dramani Mahama on Friday, February 27, 2026, with leaders of both caucuses presenting their final remarks before the House adopted the motion on the address.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, criticised several policy directions outlined by the government. He argued that the decision to acquire a new presidential jet is unacceptable at a time when many hospitals across the country remain uncompleted.
According to him, the President has also failed to fulfil his promise of creating jobs for the youth. He claimed that many young people were unable to participate in the recent security service recruitment exercise because they lacked access to the internet to complete the application process.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin further expressed concern over what he described as the reduction in the cocoa producer price, saying the decision has worsened the plight of cocoa farmers across the country.
Responding to the Minority’s concerns, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, defended the government’s policies, particularly in the cocoa sector.
He stated that under President Mahama, the cocoa producer price has been increased to unprecedented levels, ensuring that farmers benefit more from the global chocolate market.
“When the world pays more for a bar of chocolate, the farmer in Sefwi, Enchi and Tepa finally sees a reflection of that value in his pocket,” he said.
Mr. Ayariga added that government’s broader objective is to move Ghana beyond exporting raw materials toward building a strong local processing industry.
“This is not mere commerce; it is the restoration of the dignity of the Ghanaian soil. We are moving from being exporters of raw toil to masters of our own industrial destiny, investing in local processing so that ‘Made in Ghana’ becomes a global standard of excellence, not a colonial footnote,” he stated.
At the end of the debate, the House adopted the motion on the President’s address, which was moved by Isaac Adongo and seconded by John Ntim Fordjour.
The adoption of the motion formally brings parliamentary debate on the 2026 State of the Nation Address to a close.