President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, February 27, 2025, delivered his first State of the Nation Address to the 9th Parliament of Ghana, outlining his administration’s vision for economic recovery, governance reforms, and national unity.
Addressing the House, President Mahama emphasized that the overwhelming mandate given to him by Ghanaians reflected their high expectations. He reaffirmed his commitment to tackling unemployment and revitalising the economy through his signature 24-Hour Economy initiative.
“My brothers and sisters, you gave me a compelling mandate that leaves no one in doubt about your expectations of me and my government,” he stated. “You embraced the vision to generate new and well-paying jobs through the 24-Hour Economy initiative.”
Economy in Critical Condition
President Mahama painted a grim picture of Ghana’s economic situation, likening it to an intensive care unit (ICU), a phrase he had previously used while in opposition. He admitted that the country’s financial standing was even worse than anticipated but stressed that the crisis provided an opportunity for innovation and restructuring.
“The economy is even worse than we envisaged, but this gives us ample opportunity to be innovative in our efforts to reset and rebuild it,” he said.
Key Policy Measures
In response to the economic downturn, the President outlined several key measures aimed at addressing the challenges facing the country. His government, he said, would focus on fighting corruption effectively, running a lean government with not more than 60 ministers, realigning ministries, agencies, and departments to improve efficiency, introducing austerity measures to cut wasteful expenditure and enhance tax collections, expanding Ghana’s tax base and reforming investment tax waivers, and promoting local production by reducing imports and encouraging food self-sufficiency.
Commitment to Accountability
The president assured Ghanaians of his commitment to good governance, pledging that his administration would uphold high-performance standards and eliminate what he described as the “arrogance of power.”
“I will enforce and demand the highest standards of performance from those I have chosen to work with me to improve the circumstances of our country,” Mahama emphasized.
He further encouraged citizens to be active participants in governance and decision-making, stating, “Your voice and contributions will prove invaluable on this journey of national reset, and I encourage you to make your voice heard.”
National Unity and the Path Forward
Reflecting on Ghana’s 68th Independence Anniversary, Mahama urged all citizens to embrace the theme: Reflect, Review, and Reset. He called for a collective effort in overcoming the country’s economic and social challenges, stressing that unity remains Ghana’s greatest strength.
“Mr. Speaker, it is said that there is strength in unity. Ghana’s greatest strength lies in its people—its young and energetic youth. If we stand united, we can be more resilient and build together the power of collective action to overcome economic and social challenges.”
Despite the daunting economic circumstances, Mahama remained optimistic about the country’s ability to recover and thrive. “Though the state of our nation now may appear bleak and the task of addressing it may seem daunting, nothing should stop us from achieving our goals once we set our minds to them.”
With a call for national unity and shared responsibility, Mahama urged all Ghanaians, regardless of political affiliation, to contribute towards the country’s renewal.
“Every Ghanaian, regardless of political affiliation, background, or status, has a responsibility to play a key role in nation-building and work towards a complete reset of our country.”
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