GhanaWeb Feature by Etsey Atisu
At the strike of early morning of January 7, 2025, when John Dramani Mahama stood on the steps of the Parliament House of Ghana, his hand raised, poised to swear the oath of office as president for what was a historic third time, Ghana translated into a nation heavy with expectation — and weighed down by economic strain.
365 days down that same road, the story of the familiar (or not so familiar) presidency of John Mahama is now best told not in slogans, but in moments, decisions, and turning points that have defined his first 12 months in office, albeit in a second coming fashion.
For many, this reflection is an extra time funfair from the just gone-by holidays, while others sit on tenterhooks, uncertain if this is not too early, too soon to be over-excited.
But that is what makes the journey of this presidency what it is, and in this GhanaWeb news feature by Etsey Atisu, we look at what the timeline has been from those steps at the inauguration to all that has been implemented since.
January–February 2025: A return framed by urgency
The return of John Dramani Mahama to the highest office of the land was a two-edged sword one: marked by a sober inaugural address, stripped of triumphalism and heavy on realism, and an election result that brought him to power and too resounding to interest any contestation.
And proving that the presidential terrain was familiar grounds, he got right to speaking the right words to Ghanaians, acknowledging the depth of the country’s economic challenges.
Then he made a promise; to run a government focused on stability, discipline, and recovery. There were no sweeping promises of instant relief — instead, a call for shared sacrifice, discipline, and institutional repair.
Many citizens began singing the chorus that this was surely the tone of a determined, ready to serve leader, and that this was not going to be a honeymooning period.
And then within weeks, the clear signs started showing:
A leaner Cabinet as announced, signaling restraint;
Engagements began with key economic stakeholders, including the IMF and development partners;
Ministries were directed to conduct rapid assessments of stalled projects and public sector liabilities.
With a handful of his key government players in place, they signalled their legislative priorities early, particularly the intention to roll back taxes and levies widely blamed for the deepening hardships in the country at the time.
And to speed up this work, ministers-designates were lined up to appear before the Appointments Committee of Parliament, where each of them convinced the members of their plans for fiscal relief for households and businesses, as well as how they intended to use their new portfolios to pursue broader economic stabilisation.
March–April 2025: Stabilisation takes centre stage
March–April 2025: Stabilisation and the Politics of Reversal
By the end of the first quarter, the administration’s focus had crystallised around economic stabilisation, reinforced by decisive parliamentary action.
Key developments during this period included:
– Reaffirmation of Ghana’s commitment to debt restructuring and fiscal discipline;
– Measures to curb excessive government spending;
– The repeal of the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, introduced during the pandemic but increasingly seen as outdated;
– The abolition of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), one of the most contested taxes of recent years.
The government framed the tax repeals as both economic relief and political reconciliation, arguing that restoring consumer confidence would help revive economic activity.
Markets responded cautiously but positively, with easing inflationary pressures and reduced currency volatility.
May–June 2025: Policy reset and structural fiscal reforms
With the headline tax reversals completed, attention shifted to deeper fiscal and policy reforms. The presidency announced a broader “reset agenda” aimed at restoring confidence in governance and public service delivery.
During this phase:
– Infrastructure projects were reviewed with an emphasis on value for money;
– Social protection programmes were reassessed to better target vulnerable populations;
– Parliament considered amendments to revenue administration and expenditure control laws, focusing on plugging leakages rather than introducing new broad-based taxes;
– Public discourse began moving away from campaign promises toward expectations of delivery and efficiency.
July–August 2025: Oversight at home, diplomacy abroad
Mid-year marked a dual focus on governance oversight and regional diplomacy.
In Parliament, committees intensified scrutiny of state-owned enterprises, particularly those carrying high debt burdens.
Bills and policy instruments aimed at strengthening public financial management advanced quietly but steadily.
Beyond Ghana’s borders, President Mahama engaged regional leaders on security challenges in the Sahel, repositioned Ghana as a stabilising voice within ECOWAS, and pursued economic diplomacy to rebuild investor confidence.
These moves reinforced his image as a seasoned statesman drawing on prior experience.
September–October 2025: Economic decisions under public pressure
As the year progressed, parliamentary debates became more contested. Lawmakers grappled with:
– Measures linked to the IMF-supported programme;
– Amendments affecting public sector compensation and subsidies;
– Proposals to rationalise existing taxes without reintroducing abolished levies.
At the same time, public pressure intensified over cost-of-living concerns, particularly among workers and traders.
The administration faced a familiar governance test: balancing economic prudence with social impact.
November–December 2025: Stability emerges, impact questioned
By the final quarter, macroeconomic indicators began to reflect the effects of earlier policy and legislative choices.
Inflation slowed markedly from its peak, borrowing costs eased, and market confidence showed gradual improvement.
The government pointed to Parliament’s early actions — especially the removal of distortionary taxes — as part of a broader stabilisation effort.
Yet across the political divide, there was acknowledgement that macro-level gains had not yet fully translated into improved daily living conditions.
January 2026: One year on
A full year after inauguration, John Dramani Mahama’s presidency stands defined less by expansion than by recalibration.
The abolition of the E-Levy and COVID-19 Levy has come to symbolise his first year — not merely as tax decisions, but as statements about his governance style and his responsiveness to the plights of the people he has a duty over.
Supporters argue the administration inherited a crisis and prioritised the difficult work of stabilisation and trust-building, while critics insist that recovery must now deliver faster, tangible relief in jobs, prices and incomes.
As Ghana enters the second year of Mahama’s leadership, the central question has shifted from what to undo, to what to build. Whether stability can deliver broad-based prosperity will define the next chapter.
It is a journey of only 365 days so far, and it continues…
