Held at Bomaa, the programme brought together constituency delegates, regional executives, patrons, and other party faithful. Its main aim was to unite members who supported different candidates during the party’s presidential primaries.

In an interview with Adom News, Dr. Boako explained that following the election of Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s flagbearer, it was essential to bring all delegates together, resolve differences, and rally behind the elected candidate for the upcoming polls.

He expressed satisfaction that delegates who had initially backed other candidates have pledged to actively support Dr. Bawumia and the party in 2028.

The programme featured a dinner for delegates and included advice from regional executives, patrons, and some pastors, who urged members to remain united and committed to the party’s victory.

The Second Vice Chairman of the NPP in the Ahafo Region, Collins Osei Bonsu, praised Dr. Boako for the initiative, calling it a positive step towards strengthening party unity. He further noted that regional executives plan to conduct similar reconciliation exercises across the region to address grievances that arose during the primaries.

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The presentation ceremony, held at Tanoso, was attended by traditional leaders, officials from the Ghana Education Service, parents, students, and other stakeholders.

Speaking to Adom News, Dr. Boako explained that many parents in the constituency struggle to pay fees for their children in tertiary institutions, including universities, nursing training colleges, and colleges of education, a situation that often affects students’ academic performance.

He said the decision to support the students was made after he resolved to use part of his Common Fund to ease the financial burden on parents and students. According to Dr. Boako, none of the applicants was left out, as he understands the challenges students face when fees are not paid on time.

The MP noted that the initiative, dubbed the “MP’s Scholarship,” is a long-term intervention that will be sustained throughout his tenure to help address the fee-paying challenges confronting tertiary students in the constituency.

Some beneficiaries, including Amankwah Ernestina of Saint Joseph College of Education, Kaisia Nyarko Otchere of Akenten Appiah-Menka University, and Karikari Nyantakyi Josephine of Sunyani Technical University, expressed gratitude to the MP for the support.

They said delays in fee payment often cause frustration and affect their studies, describing the scholarship as a laudable and timely intervention. The students added that the initiative, which is the first of its kind in the constituency, will enable them to focus better on their academic work.

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Addressing participants at the two-day tournament held in Duayaw Nkwanta, which featured 10 teams drawn from the Terchire–Adrobaa, Duayaw Nkwanta, Yamfo, Bomaa and Tanoso–Afrisipa zones, Dr. Boako said many talented footballers in the area had missed opportunities over the years due to the absence of structured platforms to showcase their skills.

He explained that, as part of his vision as MP, he is determined to create avenues for discovering and supporting football talent, a commitment that informed his decision to invite both local and international scouts to the festival.

Dr. Boako stressed that the initiative is a long-term project that will be sustained to help produce quality footballers for the nation, while also using sports as a tool to improve the livelihoods of young people in the constituency.

Speaking on behalf of the scouting team, which included former Black Stars player Charles Taylor and Sporting Director of Spartanii Football Club in Moldova, David Obeng Nyarko, described the initiative as commendable.

He noted that the constituency is rich in football talent and said that, with proper grooming and exposure, many of the players could excel on the global stage.

According to him, about seven exceptional players have already been identified during the tournament, and with the support of the MP, the necessary processes will be initiated to help project them onto the national and international scene.

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Speaking during the 2026 Budget debate, he said the government relied heavily on sterilisation and excessive fiscal consolidation to suppress inflation.

“I dare say that without them, we were still going to achieve the same results anyway,” he claimed.

He cited data from the budget showing that the Bank of Ghana sterilised GH¢62 billion through Open Market Operations and foreign exchange auctions in 2024. According to him, the move effectively drained liquidity from the pockets of ordinary Ghanaians.

“GH¢62 billion that should have been available in the pockets of Ghanaians to spend this year has been siphoned to the Bank of Ghana,” he argued.

Dr. Boako warned that the impact would be felt sharply during the Christmas season.

“Traders will just be sitting by their products in the scorching sun with potential buyers walking around without buying,” he said, describing the situation as a direct consequence of tight monetary conditions.

He added that despite a food glut and adequate supply of goods, low disposable income means people simply cannot afford to buy.

The MP further questioned why goods with positive income elasticity of demand remain unsold.

“Why would these goods still be glutted on the market without buyers if individuals have money in their pockets?” he asked.

He urged the government to urgently release liquidity into the economy.

“The government must release this money into the economy with speed to enable people to have the money to spend,” he emphasised.

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He pointed out that despite assertions by the NDC that the economy was in a coma, it recorded 5.7% growth, adding that “never in the history of this country has any government left with such figures.”

“What actually happened today is a vindication of the fact that the government that this administration inherited did not leave the economy in a sick state. As of today, the Finance Minister has been forced to speak to the data by suggesting that the economy grew by 5.7%,” Dr. Boako said in an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on March 11.

On the issue of the national debt, Dr. Boako criticised the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, for presenting what he says were figures that the Minister later admitted were yet to be audited.

“Did you hear the Finance Minister, after mentioning all these debts, come to say that they are yet to audit those figures? How can the Finance Minister of a country like Ghana go to Parliament to present figures that are not audited, that cannot be found within the government system of this country? This is scandalous. It doesn’t happen anywhere,” he argued.

The Tano MP also questioned why the Finance Minister avoided stating the debt-to-GDP ratio, suggesting it would contradict the government’s narrative.

“When it came to the overall gross public debt, you realize that he couldn’t add all of this to the debt stock but rather mentioned the figure recorded by the Bank of Ghana and the IMF in December 2024. That is why he smartly never mentioned the debt-to-GDP ratio—because he realised that it defeats the lies he was trying to put across,” he explained.

He acknowledged that the previous government left behind some debt but insisted that it was a normal occurrence in governance.

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According to Dr. Boako, the Minister suggested that the 58% increase is the price Ghana has to pay for scrapping the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) to make up for the revenue shortfall.

However, in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, the Spokesperson for former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia disagreed. He argued that this was not the first time Ghana has entered an IMF programme, and such agreements have never required electricity tariff increments.

“It is not true that the increment is part of IMF conditionalities. This is not the first time we are going into an IMF programme, but the NDC, 7 out of 8 years in their previous administration, increased electricity tariffs,” he stated.

“Akufo-Addo inherited an IMF programme and introduced a new one, but only 3 out of the 8 years did we increase electricity tariffs. So the Minister should be truthful to Ghanaians,” he added.

He asserted that, over time, people will come to understand that former President Nana Akufo-Addo was the only leader who lifted the tax burden on Ghanaians. “The first time Ghana witnessed a cumulative reduction was under Akufo-Addo,” he concluded.

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Speaking at a mini rally held after the visit of the party’s running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Mr Boako attributed his success to the mentorship and support of the Vice President.

He stressed that, Dr. Bawumia’s leadership had been instrumental in shaping both his personal and professional journey.

Dr. Boako recounted his experiences with Dr. Bawumia, explaining how the Vice President provided him with opportunities that helped him excel.

He noted that his close working relationship with Bawumia had given him firsthand insight into his dedication and competence, urging the Tano North constituents to place their trust in his leadership.

In his address, Dr Boako praised Dr. Bawumia’s significant contributions to Ghana’s development, particularly in the areas of digital transformation and economic management.

He assured the people that a vote for Dr. Bawumia would bring continued progress to the nation and lasting benefits to the Tano North constituency.

Boako also highlighted the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) plans for economic growth and social welfare, which he said would directly impact the lives of the people in the region.

He emphasised the importance of the upcoming elections, describing the NPP’s policies under Dr. Bawumia’s leadership as key to national transformation.

Concluding his speech, Dr Boako called on the people of Tano North to show their support at the polls.

He stressed that their votes would secure a brighter future for both the constituency and the country, and urged the community to stand firmly behind Dr. Bawumia and the NPP in the upcoming elections.

In a highly charged spirit, Dr. Boako informed the huge criwd mainly made of the youth that “I want to tell you one thing. I know you love me, but I also love Vice President Bawumia more to vote for him and vote for me. ”

“Many of you call me Amansan Boafo. To wit, someone who helps everyone. I want you to know that the rope climbs up by the help of the tree. Vice President Bawumia has made me who I am today. He is the one who gave me a job to rise to this level. He made me, a poor boy, somebody that I am today. He is a good man. Vote for him and vote for me also, “Dr. Boako urged the crowd.

Source: Adomonline.com

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They credit parliamentary candidate, Dr Gideon Boako for his transformative development projects, particularly the construction of a critical road in the area.

The chief of Bredi, Okatakyie Kwaku Agyemang Duah, and his people publicly commended Dr. Gideon Boako for his exceptional contributions to the community, despite not yet being a member of Parliament.

The chief explained that Dr. Boako, who also serves as the spokesperson for the Vice President, has significantly impacted the lives of Bredi residents through various developmental initiatives.

He emphasized that the community and the residents will support the NPP in the upcoming elections due to the commitment shown by Dr Boako to ensure the continued progress of the constituency.

Speaking at a public gathering at Bredi, the chief said the construction of the road in Bredi by Dr Boako has been a particularly noteworthy achievement.

For years, the poor state of the road posed severe challenges, hindering economic activities and daily life for the residents.

“The deplorable condition of the road forced many residents to leave Bredi in search of better living conditions, which negatively affected the community’s development,” he added.

The chief highlighted that the new road constructed by Dr Boako will greatly benefit farmers and travellers by facilitating the easier and more efficient transport of goods and people.

This development is anticipated to attract former residents back to Bredi and draw in new inhabitants, fostering overall growth and development.

He explained that the projects have not only improved the quality of life in the community but have also instilled a sense of hope and optimism for the future.

The community’s support for Dr. Boako and the NPP is driven by a shared vision of continued development and progress.

The chief’s commendation of Dr. Boako’s efforts underscores the significant positive changes brought about by his proactive leadership.

The community’s trust in Dr. Boako’s vision and commitment is reflected in their decision to support the NPP in the upcoming elections.

The endorsement from such a respected local leader is seen as a crucial boost for Dr Boako’s candidacy.

Ghana’s debut four-year zero-coupon bond was two times oversubscribed, despite being the first of its kind to be issued by a West African sovereign, further demonstrating investors continued support for Ghana’s transformation story and strong fiscal consolidation efforts.

Zero-coupon bonds are bonds issued without any interest, hence trades at a discount till maturity. Thus, unlike other traditional coupon-bearing bonds, Ghana will not pay any interest on the four-year zero-coupon bond. The only debt obligation that the government of Ghana would have to honour will be the face value of $525 million on maturity.

The practical mechanics of a zero-coupon bond

For the purposes of illustration, let me apply some indicative figures and later crown them with the actuals from the 2021 issuance.

Assuming Ghana issues a $500 million zero-coupon bond at a discounted rate of 20% ($100 million), Ghana will receive $400 million in cash today but pay back $500 million when the bond matures in four years. However, in the interim, Ghana will not pay any interest over the four (4) years.

This bond structure means the government can use the money it would have used in making interest payments over the next four (4) years for other productive opportunities. In the case of Ghana for this bond, the government has the intention of using the proceeds to refinance more expensive domestic debt, which attracts an average of 19% interest rate.

So Ghana is borrowing at no interest and using the proceeds to pay existing debt with higher/expensive interest rates.

How does this benefit Ghana?

Ghana’s existing domestic bonds attract an average interest rate of about 19% (make it 20% for ease of analysis). So here, Ghana issues a 20% discounted zero-coupon foreign bond at $500 million and receives $400 million. If the $400 million is converted to Cedis, say at a cedi-dollar exchange rate of 6, that is equivalent to approximately GHc2.4 billion.

This can be used to retire existing domestic bonds, which currently pay an interest of 20%. This will save Ghana GHc480 million Cedis in interest savings a year {that is 20% multiplied by GHc2.4 billion).

Multiplying the GHc480 million a year by four years gives GHc1.92 billion (the equivalent of $320 million) in savings over the four years. If we deduct the $100 million we pre-paid upfront on the zero-coupon from the $320 million, we get our net savings which come to $220 million in savings over the four years.

Actual computations from the 2021 Zero-coupon bonds

• Ghana issued the zero-coupon bond for $525 million and received a discounted value of $409.5 million. Meaning the discounted value forgone for Ghana is $115.5 million.
• Converting the $409.5 million to cedis at the prevailing cedi/dollar exchange rate of 5.71 gives GHc2.338 billion.
• Existing local bonds for which we will use the zero-coupon bond proceeds to finance, attract an average interest rate of 18.3% (0.183).
• Multiplying 0.183 by 2.338 by 4 (years) gives GHc1.712 billion.
• Converting the GHc1.712 billion to dollars gives $299.7million
• Now, if you subtract the discounted $115.5 million from the $299.6 million, Ghana is making a net savings of $184.2 million, the equivalent of GHc1.1 billion
• Thus, based on what Ghana will use the zero-coupon bond for (financing existing expensive local bonds), Ghana will make savings of $184.2 million (GHc1.1 billion).

This is a novelty worth celebrating.

Coronavirus more than calls on all national economies’ managers to devise innovative financial engineering techniques for accelerated recovery and Ghana is doing something unique. It is a plus for all Ghanaians and the managers of the economy.

The author, Dr Gideon Boako is a Financial Economist with years of experience in academia, public policy formulations, and governmental and non-governmental consultancies. Currently, he serves on Ghana’s Economic Management Team (EMT) as Technical Advisor at the Office of the President, as well as, the Spokesperson to the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, who chairs the Economic Management Team.