A heated confrontation unfolded on the floor of Parliament on Friday, February 6, 2026, as the Minority caucus called for the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to be formally summoned to explain what they describe as the rising cost of living.
The demand comes against the backdrop of an economy that appears stable by technical indicators, yet, according to Minority MPs, continues to impose severe pressure on households through high prices of essential commodities.
Leading the charge, Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh argued that the government’s much-touted “Accra Reset” agenda has failed to translate into relief for ordinary Ghanaians. He questioned the impact of the Finance Minister’s recent engagements with traders at major markets, insisting that prices on the ground tell a different story.
“Before the budget, the minister was all over Agbogbloshie, Makola, talking to the women. Prices of tomatoes, yams, cocoyams and cassava have gone through the roof. I want to plead with the Leader of the House. It will not be out of place if we programme our friend. It is not for nothing that the Minister of Finance is one of our own. He should come. We are the people’s representatives. We are the only people who can talk about this,” Mr Annoh-Dompreh stated.
The standoff underscores the growing tension between macroeconomic data and the lived experiences of consumers.
Earlier this week, the Ghana Statistical Service announced that inflation had dropped to 3.8 per cent in January, the lowest level recorded in five years. However, the Minority maintains that food prices, in particular, remain prohibitively high and continue to fuel public dissatisfaction.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, pushed back strongly against the Minority’s claims, defending the government’s economic record and dismissing assertions of escalating costs as inconsistent with prevailing indicators.
“I don’t know which market you go to, but I know that the prices of goods and services, because of the low rate of inflation, because of the very good exchange rate relationship between the cedi and the dollar, because of the stability of the cedi and so many other good things that this government has done, definitely, prices cannot be going up. Cost of living is not a major issue in this economy,” Mr Ayariga responded.
The exchange feeds into the broader national debate often referred to as “kenkey politics”, a phrase used to describe the perceived disconnect between official economic statistics and everyday market prices.
While the Majority insists that the government has restored confidence and stability to the economy, the Minority remains adamant that Parliament must hear directly from the Finance Minister. The House is now expected to determine whether Dr Forson will be scheduled to appear and provide a detailed briefing on measures being taken to address the standard of living.
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