President Mahama Faces Urgent Appeals for Stranded Medics as Gender Ministry Unveils Social Protection Expansion

The administration of President John Mahama is navigating a complex landscape of domestic policy triumphs and urgent humanitarian appeals. While the Ministry for Gender, Children, and Social Protection has announced significant expansions to Ghana's social safety nets, the government is simultaneously facing intense pressure to intervene on behalf of hundreds of Ghanaian medical graduates currently stranded in Cuba. These developments come amid renewed calls for accountability regarding previous government expenditures, specifically concerning the auditing of COVID-19-related fumigation costs.

In a major update on social welfare, Gender Minister Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey revealed that the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program has seen a 70% increase in average grants since last year. Bi-monthly cash transfers have risen to GH¢630 for households with multiple vulnerable members, now supporting approximately 450,000 households. Furthermore, the Ghana School Feeding Programme has expanded its reach to 4.53 million children daily. These initiatives are now anchored by the Social Protection Act, 2025, which provides a robust legal framework for the ministry’s efforts to protect the rights of children and victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.

However, this domestic progress is contrasted by a brewing crisis abroad. A group of Ghanaian medical graduates in Cuba, led by their president Raphael Oteng Boakye, has issued an urgent appeal to President Mahama to facilitate their immediate return home. Despite completing their studies on July 22, the graduates have seen their departure dates postponed multiple times. The students report significant psychological and financial strain, including expired health insurance and outstanding stipends. They are calling for government intervention to ensure they can return in time for mandatory clinical attachments and medical licensing examinations required for their integration into Ghana’s healthcare system.

Adding to the political pressure, Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, has challenged the Auditor-General over the omission of significant COVID-19 fumigation expenditures in a recent special audit report. Speaking on JoyNews, the MP questioned the necessity of spending hundreds of millions of cedis on fumigation during periods when the public was largely confined to their homes. Citing investigative findings by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, Baidoo demanded greater transparency and a thorough explanation for why these substantial costs were not captured in the official audit, suggesting the total expenditure could be even higher when other institutions are considered.

These converging issues highlight the multifaceted challenges facing the current administration. As President Mahama moves to solidify social protection through legislative and budgetary increases, he must also address the logistical hurdles of the scholarship secretariat and the persistent demands for fiscal transparency in public audits. The resolution of the Cuban graduates' plight and the clarification of the audit discrepancies will likely serve as key benchmarks for the administration's commitment to both citizen welfare and institutional accountability in the coming months.