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Ras Mubarak criticizes Ghanaian officials for US birth tourism amid new US State Department measures
via GhanaWeb3 min read
Former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, has voiced strong opposition to birth tourism, particularly among public officials, following the US State Department's announcement of new measures to curb the practice. The US government stated on June 10, 2026, that it is ending illegal birth tourism schemes to protect the integrity of US citizenship, emphasizing that a US visa is a privilege, not a right. Ras Mubarak, reacting on Facebook, highlighted that US authorities can easily identify individuals traveling primarily to secure American citizenship for their children. He questioned the patriotism of African public officials and political leaders who seek foreign citizenship for their children despite achieving success in their home countries. Mubarak argued that this practice demonstrates a lack of confidence in African nations by the political class. He shared that all six of his children were born in Ghana, some in public hospitals, and called for a new generation of patriotic public servants who prioritize national interest over personal gain, stating that while private citizens may choose to have children abroad, it is "downright wrong" for taxpayer-funded officials.
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Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Member of Parliament for Techiman South, stated that squatters and criminal elements are obstructing flood mitigation projects under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development GARID Programme. The former Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development indicated that encroachers have occupied sites designated for flood control interventions in Accra, preventing contractors and agencies from accessing these areas. Speaking after a meeting between Parliament’s Works and Housing Committee, Ministry officials, and the World Bank, Korsah highlighted that these access issues are a significant barrier to the project's advancement. He noted that some individuals occupying the sites are described as criminals with weapons, who have confronted workers. Korsah emphasized that the GARID programme, supported by the World Bank, has secured funding, and delays are not due to financial limitations. He questioned the inability of state authorities to clear these encroached sites to allow critical flood control works to proceed, especially given the recurring floods affecting communities. The GARID programme aims to enhance flood risk management and resilience in flood-prone areas of the Greater Accra Region.
Must ReadDr. Yaw Twerefour, a private Ghanaian citizen, has filed a suit with the Supreme Court, seeking to declare the allocation and disbursement of District Assemblies Common Fund DACF monies into the personal bank accounts of Members of Parliament MPs unconstitutional. The suit, filed against the Attorney-General, the Administrator of the DACF, and the Ministers for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, and Finance, argues that this practice is inconsistent with Articles 187 and 252 of the 1992 Constitution and undermines public financial accountability. Dr. Twerefour contends that the DACF is exclusively for the benefit and administration of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, not for allocation to MPs or other individuals outside the constitutional framework. He seeks a declaration that any formula approving DACF distribution to MPs under schemes like “MPs Common Fund” or “Constituency Labour Projects” is unconstitutional and void. The plaintiff also challenges the direct transfer of DACF monies into personal accounts, citing a special audit from 2017-2024 that reportedly found GHS488 million paid directly to MPs' personal accounts with no structured accountability or documentation. Dr. Twerefour is requesting a perpetual injunction against such disbursements, an order for future DACF payments to be made strictly into designated public accounts of District Assemblies, a comprehensive audit of all DACF monies previously disbursed to MPs, and the
Must ReadFormer Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has challenged Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin's directive to revisit the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated in an interview on Kessben TV that the Constitution does not permit the Speaker to return a bill to the House once it has been passed through all legislative stages, including First Reading, Second Reading, Consideration Stage, and Third Reading. He argued that if any procedural issues arise after a bill's passage, it is the President, not the Speaker, who can initiate its return to Parliament after consulting the Attorney General. This comes after Speaker Bagbin directed Parliament to re-examine the anti-LGBTQ bill due to concerns about the bipartisan support reflected in the committee report not being adequately demonstrated during House proceedings. President Mahama has also indicated that the bill is far from becoming law due to unresolved procedural and constitutional concerns. Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, on May 29, to regulate LGBTQ+-related activities in Ghana. A similar bill passed in 2024 did not become law after former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo declined to assent to it.