In the initial weeks of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration since January 7, 2025, some decisions have been taken. We have also heard him and other senior members of his government speak about some of their policy proposals. 

Here is my take. 

Appointment of Presidential staffers. 

On January 21, 2025, President Mahama announced key appointments to his office. The Minority in Parliament accused him of breaching Section 4(1) of the Presidential Office Act 1993, which mandates the President to consult the Council of State prior to such appointments. At the time the President appointed his team at the Presidency, the Council of State had not been constituted, leading to calls for the President to retract these appointments and adhere to the legal protocols. This is condemnable! This is FAILURE! This does not show a great future.

Reduction of Ministries: 

In his bid to run a lean government, a key campaign promise detailed in the NDC manifesto, President Mahama reduced the number of Ministries from 30 to 23 through the Civil Service (Ministries) Instrument, 2025 (E.I. 1), signed on January 9, 2025. While some praised this move,  l think the scrapping of the National Security and Sanitation Ministries was unnecessary and wrong. These Ministries are relevant and critical. The National Security Ministry particularly requires a cabinet level supervision to ensure that the security regime in the country delivers its mandate internally and externally without challenges to  keep the nation and its citizen safe at all times. The new Ministry of Youth Development And Empowerment is needless. Issues of youth development should be part of our education and training curriculum. A desk in the Presidency for youth development would have been more appropriate. Adding agribusiness to the Ministry of Trade and Industry when there is a mother Ministry for Agriculture is not a coherent decision. A vibrant unit under the Agric Ministry could handle agribusiness.

Scrapping of some Taxes.

The delay in abolishing import duty on vehicles and equipments for Agricultural purposes, e-levy, covid levy and the betting tax suggest there may be a discussion privately to renege on these promises. Or may be, the National Economic Dialogue soon to be held will make an input on the wayforward. We insist that all the taxes the NDC described as obnoxiuos and promised to scrap them must be scrapped as soon as praticable. Ghanaians are anxiously looking foward for this policy to come to fruition. No tricks!

National Cathedral: 

In opposition, President Mahama and many leading members of the NDC categorically condemned the construction of the National Cathedral. They said it was needless. I agreed with them. As President, Mahama remarked very recently that “We can reach a more reasonable figure for achieving such a project and together we can raise the funding for it. Such a reconsideration of this project might even include changing the current site that was chosen for the project. The project must be achieved at a reasonable cost.” Mahama and his young government have been inconsistent on the cathedral’s construction. This in my view is not only dishonest, it demonstrates his unpreparedness to fulfil most of the outrageous promises he made on his eagerer agenda to return to the Presidency.

Military Incident in Obuasi: 

On January 20, 2025, Ghanaian soldiers killed at least seven individuals described as illegal gold miners in the Ashanti region. The military reported that the miners breached security fences and fired upon a patrol, prompting return fire. President Mahama called for an investigation into the incident and expressed deep regret over the loss of life. This event has sparked debates over the government’s handling of illegal mining and the use of military force. President Mahama’s lack of promptness on the issue is an indication firm-less leadership. 

Sam George’s anti LGBTQ+ crusade.

During the 2024 electioneering campaign, President Mahama outrightly denounced LGBTQ+ plus. His anti LGBTQ+ stance was hugely evidenced in his campaign across the country. He said at various places that his faith will not allow him to accept a man marrying a man, and a woman marrying a woman. He insisted that he didn’t believe that “anybody can get up and say I feel like a man although I was born a woman and so I will change and become a man.” This was in response to a church leader's call against LGBTQ+. Now the President has changed his mind. He says the bill should be sponsored by government which he leads. He is trying to buy time. This is a massive contradiction to his earlier denunciatory position during the campaign. He is now for a “broader consultations and renewed discussions to reach a consensus on the way forward” after leading his bunch of dishonest people to put pressure on NAADA to sign the bill during the elections campaign. Why is he flip flopping now? JM’s hypocrisy on this and other matters has vindicated those who said he could not be trusted on anything.  

NDC’s policy proposal to offer free tertiary education for level 100 students in Tertiary institutions.

This policy is now being communicated completely differently by apparatchiks of the government. The NDC stated without equivocation that level 100 students of all tertiary schools will pay no fees. Today the conversation has changed. An NDC MP and former university lecturer, Dr Clement Apaak now says it is not compulsory. What does he mean by that? Is he suggesting that some level 100 students will voluntarily opt out? The Education Minister, Hon Haruna Iddrisu at his recent vetting confirmed that medical students and others will not be covered by government’s decision to refund admission fees of first year university students. This is not right. The NDC manifesto on page 97, under chappter 5 is unambiguous on this policy. It reads;

“ The next NDC government will introduce “No Fees Stress” policy to alleviate the hardships on parents under the students in public tertiary institutions. Under this policy, we shall implement a NO ACADEMIC FEES FOR ALL FIRST YEAR STUDENTS IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS (emphasis is mine). Now we are being told that this policy does not apply to some students, particularly medical students. Why didn’t the NDC provide these details in their manifesto! Another big time  DECEPTION? 

Arrogance.

Newly appointed Ag Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, Victoria Emeafa Hardcastle yesterday hurled invectives at the Minority Chief Whip, Hon Annoh Dompreh at the premises of parliament and the President pretends as though, such an insolent conduct had not happened?  A couple days ago, President Mahama told his appointees to “embody humility, tolerance and respect in their interactions with Ghanaians for a people-centered approach to governance”. Was President Mahama’s warning mere political rhetoric? Otherwise this particular appointee should have been fired with the speed of light.  

I am unimpressed. Reality is dawning on the government and it is struggling to maneuver through the deceptive web they created in the  2024 campaign to hoodwink the voters and ‘stole’ their trust.

We will continue to scrutinize the policies of the government, keep their feet to fire and ensure they fulfill every single promise they made to the good people of Ghana. We aren’t wasting anytime on this task.

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