The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament has clarified its stance on the Mahama Cares Bill, stating that it does not oppose the bill’s passage under a certificate of urgency but is instead pushing for a comprehensive and sustainable funding arrangement to support its implementation.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, and Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, emphasized that while the Minority recognizes the importance and urgency of the bill’s provisions, concerns remain about how the government intends to fund the ambitious social intervention programme.
“The NPP Minority is not opposed to the Mahama Cares Bill being passed under a certificate of urgency; what we are demanding is a rigorous and sustainable funding arrangement,” Dr. Agyemang stated.
The Mahama Cares Bill, which seeks to establish a wide-ranging social protection and economic recovery programme targeting youth employment, healthcare, and education, has been tabled by the current administration under President John Dramani Mahama.
The government argues that the bill is critical to tackling unemployment and cushioning vulnerable populations amid ongoing economic challenges.
However, Minority MPs say that rushing the bill through Parliament without clarity on how it will be financed could plunge the country into deeper fiscal uncertainty.
Dr. Agyemang urged the government to provide detailed breakdowns of proposed funding sources, whether from the Consolidated Fund, external borrowing, or donor support, to ensure the programme’s sustainability.
He warned that failure to do so could lead to unfulfilled promises and a bloated public debt.
“This is not about partisan politics. We want to be sure that the programme will not become another political white elephant. The people deserve both ambition and accountability,” he added.
The call for transparency from the Minority has gained backing from some civil society organizations, who have also demanded broader stakeholder consultations before final approval of the bill.
Debate on the Mahama Cares Bill is expected to intensify in the coming days as Parliament reconvenes to consider it under urgent procedures.
