NATIONAL BROADCAST BY H.E. JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA ON THE OCCASION OF THE FIRST 120 DAYS IN OFFICE.

May 07, 2025 | Credentials Hall, The Presidency

My Fellow Ghanaians, Good Evening.

Today, May 7, 2025, marks one hundred and twenty (120) days since I had the profound honour of being sworn in as President of the Republic of Ghana for a new four-year term.

It is a day that I specifically noted on our calendar to come before you, the people of Ghana, to account for the critical first steps we promised to take in our initial months in office. Our campaign was anchored on the vision of "Building the Ghana we want together," and our manifesto, "Resetting Ghana," laid out a bold yet pragmatic plan for national recovery and transformation.

Central to this plan was a social contract for the first 120 days—a set of specific, actionable promises designed to enable us to hit the ground running and signal our unwavering commitment to change.

I stand before you tonight to update you on how we have delivered these promises. To the people of Ghana and the world observing our progress, let me state clearly: We made promises, and we have kept them.

Our first 120 days have been defined by decisive action, a commitment to transparency, and a relentless focus on laying the foundation for building the Ghana we want—a just, prosperous and united Ghana.

Key Achievements in the First 120 Days:

Forming a Lean and Efficient Government:

Appointed only 56 ministers and deputies—the smallest number in the Fourth Republic.

Nominated Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives for local governance.

Establishing a Robust Code of Conduct:

Launched a comprehensive Code of Conduct for government appointees, prohibiting the purchase of state property and regulating gifts.

Holding a National Economic Dialogue:

Convened stakeholders to address macroeconomic stability, resulting in reforms like the amended Public Financial Management Act and a debt rule targeting a 45% ratio by 2034.

Scrapping Draconian Taxes:

Repealed the E-levy, Emissions levy, and Betting Tax, with the COVID levy under review for VAT rationalisation.

Commencing the 24-Hour Economy Policy:

Launched initiatives like 24-hour passport services, DVLA backlog clearance, and incentives for businesses to operate round-the-clock.

Establishing an Accelerated Export Development Council:

Inaugurated a committee to grow non-traditional exports, targeting $3.5 billion annually by 2028 under AfCFTA.

Implementing Social Interventions:

Allocated funds for free tertiary education for first-year students and Persons with Disabilities.

Launched the MahamaCares Fund for chronic disease care and free sanitary pads for female students.

Instituting Inquiries and Forensic Audits:

Investigated scandals like Sputnik-V, PDS, and the National Cathedral, with charges filed in some cases.

Environmental Initiatives:

Banned illegal mining in forest reserves, launched the Blue Water Initiative, and the Tree for Life Reforestation project.

Justice and Security Reforms:

Reopened investigations into unresolved criminal cases, including election violence and murders.

Initiated probes into security agency recruitment and militia infiltration.

Tourism and Job Creation:

Launched the Black Star Experience tourism initiative.

Rolled out job programmes like Adwumawura, National Apprenticeship, and One Million Coders.

Conclusion:

These actions signify a fundamental shift in governance—prioritizing transparency, accountability, and urgency. While progress has been made, the journey to "Building the Ghana we want together" continues. I call on all Ghanaians to unite in this effort.

Thank you for your attention. May God bless you all, and May God bless our homeland, Ghana.