Ghana’s political environment remains active in 2018 as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) government pushes ahead with its policy agenda while the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) continues to scrutinise its decisions.
President Akufo-Addo is defending his administration’s record in Parliament, highlighting programmes in education, agriculture, healthcare, job creation and economic management. In his 2018 State of the Nation Address, he says his government is making progress while acknowledging challenges that still require attention.
Political disagreements are also emerging over Ghana’s defence cooperation agreement with the United States. Opposition figures and protesters are raising concerns about the arrangement, particularly over access to Ghanaian facilities by US forces. Hundreds of demonstrators take part in a protest in Accra in March, calling for the agreement to be withdrawn.
Within government, Akufo-Addo is also reshuffling his ministers in August. John Peter Amewu moves to the Energy Ministry, while Kojo Oppong Nkrumah becomes Information Minister-designate.
Meanwhile, the NDC continues to challenge government policies in Parliament, keeping political debate intense as Ghana moves toward the 2020 general election.
