In the grand chamber of Parliament, President John Dramani Mahama stood before the nation, delivering his first State of the Nation Address since his return to power. The weight of his words mirrored the weight of the challenges ahead—challenges not just of governance but of trust, integrity, and survival.
Ghanaians listened, hoping to hear an admission of the painful realities they already know too well, an acknowledgment of the struggles they endure daily, and, most importantly, a clear path forward. Mahama’s message was direct: Ghana is at a breaking point, but we can rebuild.
What followed was a sobering revelation of a nation crippled by corruption, mismanagement, and reckless governance. It was a brutal autopsy of an economy left in ruins, a system manipulated for personal gain, and an entire generation forced into economic despair. But it was also a rallying cry—a call to arms to reset the nation and reclaim the promise of prosperity.
The Ugly Truth: A Nation Looted and Left in Ruins
There are times when a country must look itself in the mirror and confront its darkest realities. For Ghana, this moment has arrived. The numbers alone are staggering. The national debt now stands at GHS 721 billion, a burden so immense that debt servicing alone will swallow GHS 280 billion in the next four years. The energy sector, despite the GHS 45 billion collected through levies, teeters on the brink of collapse, with an outstanding debt of GHS 70 billion. COCOBOD, once the lifeblood of Ghana’s economy, has been reduced to a shadow of itself, drowning in GHS 32.5 billion of liabilities while cocoa farmers are forced to sell their produce at scandalous losses.
If these figures weren’t alarming enough, then came the revelation that shook the nation—the National Service Scheme (NSS) ghost names scandal. For eight years, a network of corruption siphoned money from the state, paying salaries to 81,885 non-existent people. Every month, Ghana haemorrhaged over GHS 50 million in fraudulent payments, totalling billions over the years. For eight years, no audit detected this? No parliamentary committee raised alarm? No government official called for scrutiny?
The revelations kept coming. Ghana’s banking sector, already reeling from a reckless Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), remains fragile. Inflation, which was projected to be 18%, ended at 23.8%, further crippling the cost of living. The cedi continues to spiral downward, losing 19% of its value in 2024 alone.
The devastation extended beyond the economy. The healthcare system is ailing, with GHS 15 billion in liabilities suffocating hospitals. The so-called Agenda 111 hospital project, once touted as a game-changer, remains an unfinished dream, despite $400 million already spent. Roads, schools, and water projects have been abandoned, leaving communities in despair.
And yet, amidst this chaos, those who orchestrated this disaster remain unaccountable. They walk free, with no consequence for their actions.
The Bad: A Struggling Nation and a People in Anguish
The economic mismanagement of the past eight years has not just affected government balance sheets—it has crushed lives. Businesses are shutting down, workers are losing jobs, and youth unemployment has hit unprecedented levels. Over two million young people remain without jobs or hope. Families struggle to afford even basic necessities as the prices of goods skyrocket. Ghana is not just in a crisis—it is in survival mode.
Meanwhile, the public institutions meant to protect the people have failed. The judiciary is perceived as compromised, allowing politically connected individuals to evade justice. The security apparatus has been weaponized against ordinary citizens, while those in power continue to exploit their positions for personal gain.
The President’s admission of these challenges was a welcome dose of honesty, but it also came with a warning: Ghana will not recover overnight. The road ahead is difficult, and sacrifices will have to be made.
The Good: A New Dawn, If We Choose It
Despite the bleak outlook, Mahama’s address was not one of despair. It was also one of hope—a declaration that the reset has begun. A lean government has been established, with ministerial appointments slashed to just 60—a stark contrast to the bloated administration of the past. An economic reset is in motion, with a National Economic Dialogue scheduled for March to craft homegrown solutions.
The agricultural sector, which has been left in shambles, is set for revival through the Feed Ghana Programme and the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Project, aimed at reducing Ghana’s $300 million annual poultry import bill. The Free SHS policy, plagued with inefficiencies, is being restructured to eliminate the double-track system, while healthcare is being reformed to provide free primary healthcare for all Ghanaians.
Perhaps the most significant policy shift is the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative. Billions have been lost to corruption, and this government has vowed to hunt down those responsible and retrieve stolen funds. Already, over 2,000 cases of corruption have been reported, with the investigation net widening.
The message is clear: This will not be business as usual.
A Final Warning: Ghana’s Last Chance at Redemption
As Mahama’s words echoed through Parliament, another image stole the spotlight that day—an image that should send shivers down the spine of every Ghanaian politician. The loudest cheers at the inauguration did not go to President Mahama. They went to Ibrahim Traoré, the young military leader of Burkina Faso who came to power through a coup.
The sight of thousands of Ghanaians cheering a coup leader at the inauguration of a democratically elected President speaks volumes. It is a warning, a signal that the patience of the Ghanaian people is wearing thin. If politicians continue to treat public office as a personal goldmine, democracy itself will be at risk.
We have seen this before. The 1979 revolution did not come out of nowhere—it was the result of unchecked greed and the betrayal of the people’s trust. If this government fails, if justice is not served, if corruption continues unchecked, the people may take matters into their own hands.
Mahama’s address laid bare the Ugly truth of the past, the Bad realities of the present, and the Good promise of the future. But promises are not enough. Ghanaians will be watching. The world will be watching. The question remains: Will this government deliver, or will history repeat itself?
