In a spirited conclusion to the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review debate in Parliament, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem declared that Ghanaians are once again optimistic about the future because “#AbanBɔneKɔ” (the bad government is gone) and “#AbanPapaAba!” (a good government has come).
His remarks echoed a growing social media sentiment celebrating Ghana’s economic rebound under President John Dramani Mahama and Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
“Mr. Speaker, Ghanaians are now happy because #AbanBɔneKɔ and #AbanPapaAba!” Hon. Nyarko Ampem exclaimed on the floor of Parliament.
He anchored his assertion on a list of verifiable economic indicators, which he said demonstrate that the Mahama administration is delivering real results, not rhetoric.
“Indeed, the signs of economic progress are visible and measurable,” he stressed.
Some of the achievements cited included:
-
First quarter economic growth hitting a five-year high
-
Consumer Confidence Index rising from 87.7 in April 2024 to 103.6 in April 2025
-
Business Confidence Index increasing from 88.8 to 105.5 during the same period
-
Inflation dropping from 23.8% in December 2024 to 13.7% in June 2025
-
Prices of essential commodities like sugar, rice, and cooking oil falling to four-year lows
-
A GH₵2 billion capital injection into the National Investment Bank, securing jobs and deposits
-
GH₵5.1 billion saved in interest payments due to lower T-bill rates and a stronger cedi
-
GH₵113 billion slashed from the public debt in just six months
-
Debt-to-GDP ratio dropping from 61.8% to 43.8%
-
The cedi appreciating by 42.6% against the US dollar—the strongest in six decades
-
Ghana’s credit rating upgraded from junk status to B- with a stable outlook
-
91-day Treasury bill rates declining from 27.7% in December to 10.84% in July 2025
-
Gross International Reserves rising from US$8.98 billion to US$11.12 billion, now covering 4.8 months of imports
The Deputy Minister attributed these gains to the responsible and visionary leadership of President Mahama, emphasizing the government’s commitment to fiscal decentralization and local development.
“This is a sharp departure from the retrogressive re-centralization of resources witnessed under the previous regime,” he said.
Quoting the Finance Minister’s closing remarks during the mid-year presentation, Nyarko Ampem echoed once more: “#AbanPapaAba!”
The phrase, now trending nationwide, has become a rallying cry for government supporters as economic confidence resurfaces after a difficult period.
“God bless our homeland Ghana,” he concluded.
