President John Dramani Mahama’s speech on Wednesday marked his first 120 days of office and was more than a customary renewal.
It was a deliberate reaffirmation of the social contract between his administration and the people of Ghana.
By choosing a 120-day milestone rather than the traditional 100-day landmark that has come to characterize our governance system, the President subtly informed his intention to break away from political practice, and instead showed that he would focus on measurable influences on optics.
Dubbed: “120 Days of Social Contract,” the president’s speech highlighted action, accountability and urgency.
President Mahama has outlined a series of initiatives, from fixing his performance to 26 promises during his country-leading 2024 campaign, to abolish burdensome taxes, enforcing appointees’ code of conduct, and launching national dialogue on education and the economy.
Perhaps the most ambitious aspect of his early tenure is his 24-hour economic policy development plan. With the secretariat already established and legal amendments set in motion, the president’s administration appears to be seriously considering changing the economic situation in Ghana.
In fact, this, coupled with the allocation of GH¢453 million to support over 156,000 higher education students under the “no-fee stress” policy, highlights the government prioritizing education for national development.
When it comes to anti-corruption, the president’s commitment to investigating famous scandals from the Sputnik v contract to the Accraskitrain project is a necessary, if not long.
Whether these investigations provide justice or not, it will be a key test of his promise to hold both past and present appointees to the highest standards.
Environmental stewardship was also prominent, with efforts to reclaim seven of the nine forest reserves that had been degraded by illegal mining.
The president’s five strategies to disinfect the mining sector reflect the overall understanding of social and environmental issues that are at stake.
The Ghanaian era sees these as a commendable beginnings that if sustained, they can reset the tone for good governance. But I think these 120 days are just the beginning. The administration has built up a promising foundation, delivery and accountability over the coming months, but it will be a real measure of his success.
This should be the challenge for the president to work harder and worker to work harder and work more harder, because Dr. Abu Sakala Foster, a development specialist in agriculture and rural economy, is calling on the government to focus on the bigger picture to ensure access to employment, education, infrastructure and viable policies to bring relief to Ghanaians.
In an interview with the development expert Ghanaian period, he praised the president for many of the achievements that took place within the first 120 days, but he quickly turned his attention to the issue of bread and butter.
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Therefore, Dr. Abu Sakala advised the President, “Ghanaians are not only seeking promises, but also to improve their lives, strengthen their institutions, and restore trust in governance.”
I believe that the president’s declaration in his speech, “My words are my bond” means a strong commitment to fulfilling all his promises. Certainly, Ghanaians will see insightfully how he translates his words into actions to improve the welfare of the people.
The Ghanaian era believes that sustainable, inclusive and transparent action by the president is necessary to turn early momentum into positive change and development.
The road ahead is long, but if this pace is maintained, the vision of “the Ghana we want” may certainly be within reach.
