The newly sworn-in president, John Dramani Mahama, unveiled his manifesto ahead of the 2024 general elections, which eventually saw him emerge as the winner. The manifesto included an ambitious 26 promises to transform Ghana in his first 120 days as president.
We look critically at the former president, now the sixth president of the 4th Republic, and his audacious promises in his first 120 days in office.
Transform the Economy
One of John Dramani Mahama’s campaign promises was to stabilize the cedi, lower the inflation rate, and reset the nation on an economic recovery path.
During his first month as president, Mahama promises to form a National Economic Recovery Task Force, which will include professionals from various industries to suggest workable ideas that will lay the groundwork for economic growth and development.
Additionally, he intends to hold a national economic dialogue to draw up a four-year consolidation plan. However, before that, he plans to hold a national economic dialogue to discuss the true state of the economy and prepare a homegrown fiscal consolidation program to discuss the budget.
As part of a broader strategy to transform the economy, the former president will establish an Accelerated Export Development Council (AEDC) to promote exports.
He also promises to commence the review of the Customs Amendment Act 2020, to scrap the law banning the importation of salvaged vehicles to rescue the local automotive industry at Suame Magazine, Kokompe, Abosey Okai, among others.
Eliminate Corruption
In his efforts to eliminate corruption in the country, Mahama intends to reorganize the Office of the Special Prosecutor and provide it with the necessary funding and support it needs to efficiently investigate and prosecute corruption allegations and all perpetrators of corruption.
During his 120 days in office, John Mahama says he will reopen investigations into criminal cases including the 2020 election killings, the Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-election violence, and the murder of Ahmed Hussein Suale and Silas Wulochamey.
He has pledged to institute inquiries and/or forensic audits into matters such as the collapse of Indigenous Ghanaian banks and financial institutions at a supposed cost of $25 billion, illegal printing of money, the $58 million National Cathedral scandal, illegal and inflated single-sourced projects, among others.
Mahama emphasized his zero-tolerance policy on fraud, adding that his administration intends to lay before parliament a new bill that will streamline government scholarship administration, prohibit political appointees from accessing government scholarships, and eliminate political patronage, cronyism, nepotism, and corruption in awarding government scholarships.
He will also institute a government policy banning political appointees from purchasing state assets.
Address Unemployment
Youth unemployment remains a critical issue in the country, and Mahama vows to tackle it head-on. In his first 90 days in office, Mahama plans to put in efforts to address the high unemployment and cost of living in the country.
Under the Office of the President, he will commence drafting needed legal amendments and prepare for the implementation of the 24-hour economy policy.
He has also promised to launch priority job creation programs in his first budget, such as the Adumawura Program, the National Apprenticeship Program, and the One Million Coders Program.
Additionally, he intends to rationalize taxes by halting the value-added tax (VAT) on e-levy, the COVID levy, the 10% levy on bet winnings, and the emissions levy.
He also promises to review taxes imposed on necessities such as food and fuel. This, according to him, will boost consumer spending and bring instant relief to suffering Ghanaians.
Gender Equality
In his first 120 days in office, John Mahama did not leave the women of this country out.
To help promote gender equality and guarantee inclusiveness, President Mahama intends to establish a gender equity council that will help promote women’s involvement in politics and decision-making.
In this regard, he would also commence the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and senior high schools across the country. He would also establish seed money for the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank.
Improve Education
Improving the education system in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service is another priority for the John Mahama-led administration.
In his first 120 days in office, Mahama plans to convene a national consultative conference on education to build consensus on needed improvements to the sector.
He also plans to implement the “No Academic Fee Policy’’ for all first-year students in all public institutions, universities, colleges of education, and nursing training institutions, among others.
He will also introduce the Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities as well as the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund, also known as Mahama Cares.
Restore Hope
According to Mahama, his government will put measures in place to restore the lost hopes of Ghanaians within his first 120 days as president.
For instance, he will initiate a probe into the man-made disaster caused by VRA’s spillage of the Akosombo and Kpone Dams that misplaced and destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of citizens in the Volta, Eastern, and Greater Accra regions.
He will also initiate steps to compensate the flood victims, including those in the Oti, Bono East, and Savanna regions.
Conclusion
The coming months will be a crucial test for the Mahama-led administration’s ability to deliver on its commitments and promises after Ghanaians massively voted for them.
While these ambitious 120-day promises have been criticized by some Ghanaians, the success of these initiatives will depend on effective planning, collaboration, and transparent communication with the Ghanaian people.
By: Habibatu Hameed
