President John Mahama’s reset agenda is credible in its goals but inconsistent in its execution – this is according to the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD).
In a detailed assessment of President John Dramani Mahama’s second term, the CDD described the first year as a “story of promising signals constrained by structural realities.”
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While commending the administration for its strong macroeconomic stabilization, the report pointed out significant gaps in governance, anti-corruption efforts, and environmental management.
The CDD noted that the Mahama II administration took office amid widespread distrust, with only 28% of citizens expressing confidence in the presidency at the beginning of 2025. Positive steps were acknowledged, such as the release of a Code of Conduct for appointees and the formation of a Constitution Review Committee (CRC II).
However, the transition was marred by instances of “vigilante violence,” as groups affiliated with the NDC unlawfully invaded public facilities like Ghana Gas. The report also highlighted a “transparency deficit” regarding the unprecedented dismissal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, as the committee’s findings were never disclosed.
In Parliament, the NDC’s two-thirds majority led to the misuse of “certificate of urgency” to expedite legislation, such as the Energy Sector Levy Bill, without adequate discussion.
The report praised the administration for its “exceptional” macroeconomic stabilization efforts after taking over an economy in distress.
Regarding local government funding, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) received 80% of the allocated District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), a significant improvement from the previous administration’s average of 40-50%.
The “Reset Agenda” aimed to address high inflation and debt distress, but the report cautioned that the real challenge will be maintaining this progress through the 2027 debt repayment cycle.
On anti-corruption, President Mahama kept his promise to limit ministerial appointments to 60%, though the anti-corruption “Reset” faces credibility issues. The CDD criticized the GH₵20,000 gift threshold in the Code of Conduct as “alarmingly high,” which could lead to potential corruption loopholes.
In terms of social development, the focus was on “restoration and stabilization” rather than complete transformation. For education, GH₵9.1 billion was allocated to basic education, and the ‘No Academic Fee Policy’ benefited over 120,000 first-year tertiary students. In health, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) improved liquidity and reduced arrears owed to providers. For social protection, the LEAP program expanded to 400,000 beneficiary households, with transfers now indexed to inflation.
In the foreign affairs and defense sector, a Special Envoy was appointed to the Sahel, and the administration served as an AU Champion on Reparatory Justice. However, the CDD warned of “coordination challenges” with ECOWAS and a lack of transparency in migration partnerships.
Source: Bugbila Moadow.
