President John Mahama has been forming various committees with assigned duties since assuming office.
His Ministers and appointees have also been forming committees to undertake one duty or the other.
The following is a breakdown of all the committees formed since Mahama took office:
ORAL Committee
John Mahama formed “Operation Recover All Loot” (ORAL) committee immediately upon assuming office. The committee was chaired by incumbent cum re-elected Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Ablakwa.
The five-member team put together by the incoming president, Mr. John Dramani Mahama to recover the country’s stolen resources submitted its report this week.
Mr. Ablakwa reiterated that the ORAL team’s focus is on accountability and safeguarding Ghana’s resources, urging the public to come forward with credible information on corrupt practices, regardless of who is implicated.
National Economic Dialogue Committee
President John Dramani Mahama announced a seven-member National Economic Dialogue (NED) Planning Committee.
Hosting the economic dialogue is part of the president’s 120-day Social Contract promised during the campaign. The committee, chaired by economist Dr. Ishmael Yamson, includes Dr. K.Y. Amoako, Professor John Gatsi, Mohammed Samara, Nelly Mireku, Anthony Sarpong, and Ernest De-Graft Egyir. The individuals were chosen for their expertise and experience in various sectors crucial to Ghana’s economic landscape.
Constitutional Review Committee
President John Dramani Mahama announced an eight-member committee chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of CDD-Ghana, to work towards the review of the 1992 constitution.
Other members of the committee are Justice Sophia Adinyira, a former Supreme Court Judge; Professor Kwame Karikari; Mrs Charlotte Osei; Dr Godwin Djokoto; Ibrahim Tanko Amidu; Dr Esi Ansah; and Dr Rainer Akumperigeya.
18-member Committee on Mining
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources on Wednesday February 12, 2025, inaugurated an 18-member technical committee chaired by Professor Martin Oteng-Ababio to develop a blueprint to reform and sanitise the mining sub-sector.
The Committee is tasked to review the current state of the mining sector and provide recommendations to reform the sector towards ensuring sustainable national development.
It has a two-week ultimatum (February 27,2025) to present its final report to the lands minister to enable the government to implement recommendations for reforms in the mining sector.
Buah inaugurated the committee together with Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) at the Ministry’s premises in Accra.
The committee comprised experts from the offices of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Minerals Commission, Centre for Extractive Development – Africa representing Civil Society.
The rest are the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners, Water Resources Commission, Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, National House of Chiefs, Lands Commission, Ghana Geological Survey Authority, and Technical Directors of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources – Mines, Forestry and Lands.
The terms of reference for the Committee include reviewing the licensing regime and processes within the mining sector; review operations of mining in forest reserves and identify best-practices for sustainable mining operations.
Also, it is expected to propose approaches to halting mining in water and river bodies and make recommendations for the development of a comprehensive strategy to addressing mining challenges.
120 Day Contract Committee
President John Dramani Mahama inaugurated a 120 Days Social Contract Task Force to ensure he implemented his promises into the first 120days as he promised.
The committee has held its inaugural meeting following the swearing-in of the full complement of ministers of state.
Chaired by Dr Valerie Sawyerr, Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs, the 19-member committee is to ensure that the policies outlined in the NDC Manifesto to be achieved within the first 120 days of President Mahama’s assumption of office are fulfilled.
The president noted that while some of the promises have been delivered, others required a sectoral focus and needed the ministers to be in place.
Data Cost Reduction Committee
Minister of Communications, Samuel Nartey George also announced plans to establish an inter-ministerial committee to examine and address the high cost of data in Ghana.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile last week, Sam George revealed that he had already given directives to the management of the Communications Ministry to begin the process, with the committee expected to be set up within the next 14 days.
“Yesterday, I met the director and management of the ministry, and I’ve given them the running order. Hopefully, within the next 14 days, we’ll be setting up an inter-ministerial committee to look at the cost of data,” he said.
Education Forum Planning Committee
President John Dramani Mahama has tasked an eight-member committee, chaired by Professor K. T. Oduro, to plan and organise a National Education Forum.
The committee has two weeks to submit its report, which should include a proposed central theme and sub-themes to promote meaningful engagement with stakeholders in the education sector.
In a statement, the acting Spokesperson for the President, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, detailed a nine-point terms of reference for the committee.
These include:
1. Identifying key stakeholders within the education community.
2. Suggesting a venue and dates for the forum.
3. Estimating a budget for the forum, and
4. Drafting a national policy framework, along with an action plan for implementation and recommendations, to be submitted within three weeks following the forum.
Other members of the committee are Professor Goski Alabi, Professor Rosemary Bosu, Dr Samuel Awuku, Professor Smile Dzisi, Kofi Asare, Stephen Owusu and Inusah Shiraz.
24Hour Passport Committee & Migration Regulation Committee
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on his first day in office inaugurated two committees to oversee the rollout of a 24-hour passport application system and improve the welfare of Ghanaians living abroad.
Speaking on his first day in office, Ablakwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernizing passport processing and ensuring that Ghanaians in the diaspora receive better protection and support.
24-hour passport application committee
The first committee will focus on transforming Ghana’s passport application system into a 24-hour service. The minister stressed the need for full digitalization, integration of biometric databases, and the use of courier services to deliver passports directly to applicants.
“We shouldn’t have a situation where thousands of passports remain uncollected. If the government already has your biometrics, why should you have to provide them again for every application?”Ablakwa questioned.
The second committee will focus on protecting Ghanaians working abroad, particularly those who have been exploited by unscrupulous agencies. Ablakwa emphasized the need for government-to-government agreements to regulate labor migration and ensure fair treatment of Ghanaian workers.
Gold BoD Technical Committee
In a move to formalize Ghana’s gold sector, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson also inaugurated a technical committee tasked with establishing the Ghana Gold Board.
The committee’s primary objective is to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework, governance structure, and operational strategies for the proposed Gold Board.
This is a key initiative of President John Dramani Mahama aimed at maximizing the nation’s gold resources and stabilizing its currency.
Speaking at the inauguration, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson described the initiative as a bold step toward addressing inefficiencies in Ghana’s gold sector.
