President John Dramani Mahama says he assumed office at a time when the country was in severe distress, with economic fragility and governance challenges pushing the state to a critical point.

He explained that the conditions prevailing at the time of his inauguration on January 7, 2025, required swift and far-reaching action to halt further decline and stabilise the nation.  The President made the comments during a three-day official visit to Zambia, where he held an interaction with Ghanaians resident in the country.

Speaking to the gathering, President Mahama revisited the context in which his administration took over government, detailing the depth of the problems it inherited. He noted that the economy was under intense strain, while major sectors including health, education, and agriculture were facing serious setbacks.

He added that Ghana’s debt challenges had worsened the situation, weakening investor confidence and restricting the country’s ability to secure external financing.

According to the President, these realities informed the tone and direction of his campaign ahead of the 2024 general elections. He said his administration was candid with citizens about the scale of the task ahead, emphasising that cosmetic solutions would not deliver lasting recovery.

President Mahama stressed that his return to office was driven by a commitment to restructure and rebuild Ghana’s institutions and economy, rather than simply securing electoral victory.