Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has defended the government’s record in the mining and health sectors, insisting that the 2026 Budget demonstrates unprecedented progress.

Closing the debate on the policy document, he dismissed attempts by the Minority to downplay the achievements, particularly in gold export earnings and the fight against illegal mining.

“Gold export earnings surged by 71.4%, from US$7.7 billion in 2024 to US$13.3 billion in 2025,” he said.

Mr Ayariga explained that small-scale miners were now selling more through official channels due to reforms, including the abolition of the 1.5% withholding tax and intensified anti-smuggling operations.

He argued that the GHC 150 million allocated to the anti-galamsey fight was only part of a broader, multi-agency effort.

“The retooling of the air force and other security agencies is also anti-galamsey spending,” he stressed.

On the health sector, Mr Ayariga criticised claims that the government had underfunded Agenda 111.

He compared this with what he called a “scandal of monumental proportions” under the previous administration, alleging that hundreds of millions of dollars were spent without completing any hospitals.

He cited examples where generators were hired solely for ceremonial commissioning events.

“They hired generators for the President to commission hospitals and closed them after the event,” he claimed.

The Majority Leader also celebrated improvements to the National Health Insurance Scheme, including the uncapping of the NHIA and the record GH₵3.4 billion transferred to the authority in 2025.

“Our NHIS is now financially reliable, stable and trusted,” he told Parliament, noting that claims payments had reached GHC2.84 billion by October 2025.

He contrasted this with what he said were wasteful contracts under the previous administration, including a controversial $100 million IT contract.

Concluding, he said the 2026 Budget reflects a renewed focus on social investment.

“We have shifted from strangulating social spending to expanding it significantly,” he stated.

“This government is building a stronger foundation for health, mining and social protection.”