President John Mahama is set to deliver the State of the Nation (SONA) address to Parliament next week, ahead of the National Economic Dialogue scheduled for March 3, 2025.
The Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced this at a press briefing after the first meeting of Cabinet in Accra yesterday.
He said the SONA, a significant event in the country's political calendar, will provide the platform for President Mahama to open the books to citizens, and present the current economic state of the country, what was inherited and what plans there are to ensure economic revival and resuscitation.
“He will take the opportunity to delve deep,” the minister added.
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Briefings
The minister said three briefings were given at the meeting, with the first coming from the country’s security chiefs who declared Ghana safe, and assured Cabinet that they were in the position to avert any unlikely threat to the country.
The Presidential Adviser on the 24 Hour Economy and accelerated economic development, Augustus Goosie Obuadum Tanoh, delivered the second briefing on the roadmap to the full implementation of the policy.
“The briefing showed that we are on course for a smooth take off,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu said.
He also said that the briefing of the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, showed that the economic situation of the country was dire than previously known.
The minister said that the former government under the New Patriotic Party and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, engaged in economic mismanagement.
He, however, assured the public of the new administration’s capacity to turn things around.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu announced that the Finance minister will present his first Budget to Parliament on March 11, 2025.
19-Member Cabinet
The minister further announced that a 19-member cabinet had been formed, comprising of the Minister of Finance; the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak; the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and the Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah.
Others are the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine; the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor; the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, and the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare.
Also included are the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, and the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Samuel Nartey George.
The Ministers of Roads and Highways Kwame Governs Agodza; Environment, Science and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and Works, Housing and Water Resource, Adjei Kenneth Gilbert are also members.
The rest are the Ministers of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim; Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey; Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, as well as Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo.
