Former Minister for Works and Housing and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has underscored the urgent need for the government to submit comprehensive policy documents to Parliament.

He argues that without these documents, Parliament and the wider public are left unable to fully scrutinise, cost, or support the implementation of key programmes.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Thursday, May 29, Mr Oppong Nkrumah stated that policy and programme documents are fundamental to democratic governance.

He explained that such documentation provides the technical details required for proper supervision by the legislature.

“These documents give you the details that allow you to cost properly, fund appropriately through the budget, and enable Parliament to exercise oversight,” he said.

Beyond Parliament, he highlighted that policy documents equip civil society, the media, and the general public with the tools to track implementation, assess progress, and evaluate the effectiveness of government programmes.

“It helps us avoid taking credit for outcomes driven by external factors or shifting blame when things don’t go as planned,” he added.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah noted that this issue has been a consistent concern since the beginning of the current Parliament, with repeated calls for policy documents to be submitted alongside any major government initiative.

“Parliament is the pillar of democracy. When you bring these documents forward, you make the process transparent, and the public—including Parliament—can follow, assess, and even help you succeed,” he said.

He listed several programmes announced by the government for which the corresponding policy documents have not yet been presented. These include:

1.The 24-Hour Economy Policy – expected by 1st July

2.The Economic Recovery Programme – yet to be delivered

3.The Economic Transformation Agenda – pending

4.The Agricultural Transformation Programme – launched but lacking documentation

5. The One Million Coders Programme – no clear framework published

6.The Adwumawura Initiative – launched on 28th April, without a public document

7.The National Apprenticeship Programme – also undocumented

He raised concerns that without clearly defined parameters, qualification criteria, and key performance indicators, it becomes difficult for stakeholders, including journalists, to evaluate or track progress.

“For example, how do you as journalists verify or track those who have qualified or know how many people who have benefitted from these initiatives without the policy document?”

Drawing from his time in government, Mr Oppong Nkrumah described the lack of documentation as one of the most persistent challenges in public administration.

“When you launch a programme without a clear policy framework, it becomes difficult for anyone—inside or outside government—to evaluate its success or contribute meaningfully to its execution,” he said.

He concluded by stressing the importance of the timely publication of these documents, welcoming news that the 24-Hour Economy Policy Document is expected to be out by 1st July.

"That’s why it's important and critical, and that’s why we are happy that by the 1st of July this document will come out," he concluded.