By Prince Ahenkorah
Barely eight months into his presidency, John Dramani Mahama has declared his government is “resetting Ghana” and reigniting hope across the nation.
At a media briefing at the Jubilee house last night, the President detailed a wide-ranging list of achievements, from revitalizing the economy to tackling unemployment and cracking down on illegal mining.
According to Mahama, his administration has already made significant headway in averting dumsor, bringing down the exchange rate, and slashing nuisance taxes.
He boasted that these moves have led to the lowest inflation in four years and a noticeable drop in the cost of living.
In a move to ease the burden on students, Mahama highlighted his government’s No Fee Stress Policy, which has already refunded fees to 120,000 first-year tertiary students.
This is coupled with the Student Loan Plus Policy to support low-income households.
The President also announced that the Free SHS policy is being strengthened with a GH¢3.5 billion allocation and a new Free Tertiary Education Policy for persons with disabilities.
On the health front, the 2025 budget has been boosted to GH¢17.8 billion, with an impressive 66% increase in NHIS funding.
While acknowledging the loss of $156 million in U.S. health aid, Mahama stated that Ghana is filling the gap with domestic resources.
An additional GH¢2 billion is earmarked for health infrastructure by 2028, with the Cabinet currently reviewing the status of the long-stalled Agenda 111 hospitals.
To combat youth unemployment, the government has launched the Adwumawura Program and the One Million Coders Program, among others, to equip young Ghanaians with critical skills.
The President also noted that 24-hour services have been introduced at key entry points, including the Passport Office and the ports in Tema and Takoradi, to support a new 24-hour economy.
On the environment, Mahama’s administration is taking a hardline stance against illegal mining.
A national task force has seized hundreds of excavators and chanfang machines, while the Tree for Life initiative is working to restore degraded lands.
In a bold move for accountability, the President confirmed that prosecutions are underway in high-profile cases like the SkyTrain and National Cathedral scandals, with charges filed against key individuals.
Mahama revealed a major shift in how funds are disbursed to local assemblies, stating that they now receive 80% of their allocation directly, up from 40-50% in the past.
This change aims to empower local governments to tackle projects in health, education, and sanitation more effectively.
Looking ahead, the President announced the launch of the Big Push Program, a massive road infrastructure initiative.
The program will receive a GH¢14 billion injection from oil and gold revenues this year alone, with nearly GH¢1 billion already allocated to key projects like the Ofankor–Nsawam road.
The President ended on a high note, promising a government committed to honesty, transparency, and accountability. He expressed confidence that these reforms will set Ghana on a path to economic recovery and restore its rightful place on the global stage.