President John Mahama has declared that his administration has successfully met key targets set in its self-imposed 120-day social contract, highlighting early achievements in governance, economic reform, and public accountability.
Speaking in a national address on 7 May, President Mahama said his government had kept its word on many of the commitments outlined during the transition into office.
“We made promises and we have delivered them,” he said, as he outlined specific milestones reached since taking office.
Among the highlights, Mr Mahama pointed to the swift appointment of his ministerial team, completed within 14 days. He said the ministers have since been vetted and are “hitting the ground running.”
The president also touted the formation of what he described as the “leanest government” in Ghana’s Fourth Republic, with only 56 ministers and deputy ministers appointed so far.
As part of his commitment to transparent governance, he announced the finalisation and launch of a revised Code of Conduct for government officials. The updated code includes new rules aimed at curbing corruption, such as bans on acquiring state property, strict limits on gifts, and clearer guidelines on official expenditures.
“I have left my appointees in no doubt that I will bring down the hammer swiftly and strongly if they breach any of its provisions,” he warned.
Mr Mahama also credited his government with implementing key recommendations from the recent National Economic Dialogue. He said these efforts were already bearing fruit, with signs of currency stability, easing inflation, and a reduction in public borrowing.
As part of a broader economic reform package under the IMF-supported programme, the president confirmed amendments to the Public Financial Management Act. These changes include the introduction of a debt rule targeting a debt-to-GDP ratio of 45% by 2034 and a requirement for a primary budget surplus of at least 1.5% of GDP annually.
On the controversial COVID-19 levy, which his government had pledged to scrap, the president said the tax remains in place due to its links with the ongoing VAT rationalisation under the IMF deal. That exercise is scheduled for September 2025.
He noted that the government had already gone beyond its 120-day pledge in the area of tax reform, with several new laws passed. These include amendments to VAT and income tax laws, the removal of VAT on motor vehicles, and new legislation affecting energy, gold, and public finance management.
Despite the president’s optimism, independent observers have offered a more cautious assessment. A recent report by the Institute for Economic Research and Public Policy (IERPP) suggested that only 23% of the administration’s social intervention promises had been fulfilled in the first 120 days.
Source:TheDotNews