2026 HEALTH BUDGET: Mahama Gov’t Failing Health Promises, Slashing Nurses’ Allowance by GH₵300m — Dr. Kingsley Agyemang

Minority member of the Health Committee, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, has taken a swipe at the Mahama-led administration, accusing it of failing to honour key health-sector commitments while allocating huge sums to presidential jets.

Speaking after the presentation of the 2025 budget, Dr. Agyemang argued that government’s funding choices point to “misplaced priorities,” particularly the sharp reduction in the nursing training allowance—from GH₵770 million in 2025 to GH₵474 million in the 2026 projections.

He said the budget ignores several NDC manifesto promises, including market clinics, mobile medical vans for rural communities, and the upgrading of senior high school sickbays into satellite clinics.

“You’re in your second year of government, yet none of these has seen any expression in the budget,” he stated.

The MP further criticised the absence of occupational health and safety reforms, tax waivers for health professionals, and risk insurance for frontline workers—initiatives he said were boldly promised by the NDC.

Calling the cuts to nursing training funds “dangerous” for the health workforce pipeline, he also questioned why government has failed to show progress on its pledge to construct two new nursing training institutions.

Dr. Agyemang contrasted the declining health allocation with what he described as a massive GH₵12 billion plan to procure presidential and military jets, arguing that a country grappling with galamsey-induced health crises should be funnelling more investment into health infrastructure and services.

“With the health sector receiving less than 8 percent of total allocation—far below the 15 percent Abuja target—this budget is unhealthy and a clear sign of misplaced priorities,” he stressed.