The founder of the United Progressive Party, Akwasi Addai Odike, has dismissed calls to give President John Dramani Mahama more time, insisting that nine months in office is long enough for the government to show meaningful results.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen programme, Odike said Ghanaians were promised decisive leadership by the National Democratic Congress ahead of the 2024 elections, yet little has changed since President Mahama returned to office.
“You can’t tell me that nine months is just,” Odike said. “This government had a clear plan before the elections and Ghanaians expect action, not excuses.”
He criticised the administration’s handling of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, noting that Mahama had pledged to declare a state of emergency on the menace but has yet to deliver tangible progress. According to Odike, an audit of all mining licenses is urgently needed because so-called legal and illegal operations often overlap on the ground.
“We are losing everything to galamsey,” he warned, accusing the president of repeating the same failures that marked the Akufo-Addo administration. Odike alleged that powerful figures within both the NDC and the New Patriotic Party are directly involved in illegal mining, making it difficult to root out.
The UPP leader also pointed to worsening living conditions, citing soaring food prices. “Three fingers of plantain now cost 20 cedis while the minimum wage is only 18 cedis,” he lamented.
Odike went further to argue that neither the NDC nor the NPP is capable of transforming Ghana, even if given unlimited time. He accused successive leaders since 1992 of deceiving Ghanaians, mismanaging the economy, and allowing foreigners to dominate key sectors.
“Our democracy was supposed to bring political and economic freedom, but all we do is trek around the globe with a begging bowl,” he said.
