Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie, Chair of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders in South Africa, has commended President John Mahama for his candid and solution-oriented State of the Nation Address (SONA).
He asserted that just one year of Mahama’s governance would yield better results than Akufo-Addo’s entire eight-year tenure.
Speaking on the Joy Prime Morning Show on Friday, February 28, 2025, Quashie shared his perspective on “2025 SONA: Assessing Mahama’s Promises, Plans, and Realities.”
He praised the president’s straightforward approach and policy direction, stating, “A year of President Mahama in office should be better than Akufo-Addo’s eight years.”
Quashie highlighted Mahama’s commitment to a 120-day social contract with Ghanaians, emphasizing the importance of delivering on his promises within that period.
“He would be held accountable for the 120 social contracts he signed with the Ghanaian people,” he said. He expressed optimism that by the end of the year, citizens would experience economic stability, reduced inflation, and improved healthcare services. “We should be able to stabilize the economy, bring inflation down, improve our health conditions, and provide quality healthcare at affordable prices,” he added.
However, he acknowledged the financial challenges facing the government due to Ghana’s debt burden, cautioning that infrastructure development might be slow. “Road contractors haven’t been paid for a long time, and it wouldn’t be sensible to promise building more roads at this time; we need to work on completing the uncompleted roads,” he noted.
On the issue of investor confidence, Quashie revealed that Mahama has taken a hands-on approach by directly engaging with investors. “He doesn’t leave everything to the ministers; he personally gets involved to assure those being engaged of the seriousness attached to the negotiations,” he affirmed.
He particularly commended Mahama’s efforts in attracting investment to the energy sector, which he believes will be crucial in eliminating power outages and ensuring the success of the government’s proposed 24-hour economy agenda.
Quashie further praised Mahama’s governance style, describing him as a leader who fosters media freedom and constructive criticism. He emphasized that press freedom is a key factor in investor decisions.
“You would not believe it, but investors take into account press freedom when making investment decisions,” he revealed. He also noted that Mahama’s openness to feedback reassures investors that their concerns will be addressed.
Summing up his thoughts, Quashie described this year’s SONA as the best he has heard in a long time. He urged Ghanaians to anticipate a governance style unlike any seen in the Fourth Republic.
With the SONA now delivered, the focus shifts to Mahama’s first budget in his second term, as citizens eagerly await policies that will provide hope and a pathway to a brighter future.
