The John Dramani Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has been exposed for preaching transparency while failing to practise it.
The Mahama government, despite portraying itself as an administration committed to openness and accountability, more than 21 government institutions under the Mahama administration allegedly failed to provide information requested by journalists from The Fourth Estate.
According to The Fourth Estate, between January 2025 and July 2026, the institutions failed to respond to, or release requested information on 24 separate occasions through Right to Information (RTI) requests, raising questions about the government’s commitment to transparency.
The NDC opposition also promised to ensure access to information, which was anchored in the NDC’s resetting agenda manifesto promising to fully implement and operationalise the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989).
Parts of a new article published by The Fourth Estate detailed, “In June 2025, The Fourth Estate requested information from the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs on the full list of dumpsites Zoomlion Ltd. was said to have excavated through a multi-million-cedi contract with the government. The ministry failed to respond despite an internal appeal to the then minister, Ahmed Ibrahim.
In the same month, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources failed to release information on the list of companies President Akufo-Addo had granted permits under the LI2462 to mine in forest reserves that had been designated as globally significant biodiversity areas.
In September 2025, the National Communications Authority (NCA) refused to release information on how much KGL Technologies had received through its USSD platform for the 5/90 online lottery. The information was necessary for The Fourth Estate’s investigations into the terrible NLA-KGL deal, but the NCA did not budge.
In March 2026, the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) promised that it would make available copies of the government’s flagship Big Push project in two weeks. But after five months, the GHA appears to have reneged on its promise. The Fourth Estate, through the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has submitted a petition to the RTI Commission for a review.
The GHA, in May 2026, again failed to release information on abandoned prefabricated bridges Ghana procured through a 43 million-pound loan, despite an internal appeal to the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mallam Issah Ishak.
The Finance Ministry oversees fund disbursement to all government institutions, but when The Fourth Estate requested information on its budgetary allocations and disbursements in April 2026, it chose not to respond. An internal appeal has been sent to the minister, Cassiel Ato Forson. Still, the Ministry has failed to provide the information.
The Finance Ministry has also decided to close the door on information on the details of the work of the technical committee established by President Mahama to investigate the NLA-KGL contract. In May 2026, an application requesting a copy of the full report of the committee was sent to the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. The Attorney-General’s office said the MFWA should check with the Office of the President. The Office of the President, in turn, said the MFWA should contact the Finance Ministry for it. But the Finance Ministry has gone quiet, despite a follow-up appeal to the Minister.
The Attorney-General’s office has also refused to disclose information on how much the state has recovered from the Republic vs. Kwabena Duffour and 7 others case. An appeal has been sent to Attorney-General Dr Dominic Ayine, but that has changed nothing”.
Meanwhile, Minister in charge of Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye has denied reports of a deliberate attempt by many public institutions to deny access to information.
Felix Ofosu Kwakye is quoted by The Fourth Estate saying, “As a government, there’s no policy of concealment,” he noted. “We do not have a policy that says that various government agencies in various sectors should conceal information because we are uncomfortable or anything.”
“We believe that the law has inbuilt mechanisms to provide remedies for persons who are aggrieved by the conduct of public institutions regarding their unwillingness, or if you like, inability to disclose information that is requested for,” he said.
See the full list of institutions compiled by the Fourth Estate below:
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