The John Dramani Mahama government will mark its 100th day in office on Tuesday, April 16, 2025.
The president himself and his appointees have hit the ground running, trying to honour his promise to Ghanaians to ‘reset Ghana’.
In their bid to help him achieve his manifesto promises to the people of Ghana, some of President Mahama’s appointees have issued directives that have attracted some negative sentiment for his government.
These directives, though aimed at solving challenges, have been heavily criticised by a section of the public.
Here are some of the directives of Mahama appointees that have not sat well with a faction of the public:
Beating up traders who refuse to leave pavements:
The most recent directive of a Mahama appointee that has been heavily criticised is that of the Kumasi Mayor, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, who has said that he is going to whip offenders who flout the law of trading on pavements.
Speaking at a press conference on April 14, 2025, Agyemang Boadi said that he issued a two-week notice to traders operating on pavements, urging them to find alternative spaces for their businesses.
“I have my own military-democratic style, which I will be implementing. When we say leave the space and you don’t leave the space and I get there, and you’re not there and my boys are with me, there and then, we will beat you,” he warned.
He further stated, “In the middle of Adum, if I’m alone, you will be lucky, but if I’m with my ten boys, in their pick-up with their whips, trust me, we will beat you. If you don’t want to experience that kind of situation, do what is right and lawful.
“This is Otumfuo’s city, this is the Garden City of West Africa, and we have to preserve it. If you want the job to be difficult for me, I will let your body feel the difficulty you are giving to me.”
Deportation of illegal miners:
The government was also heavily criticised after the Minister of the Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, announced a directive not to prosecute foreigners who are caught engaging in illegal mining (galamsey).
The minister indicated that the government will no longer prosecute foreigners who engage in galamsey activities, fraud, and other illegal activities but will deport them and ban them from ever entering Ghana.
“What we found, the kind of activities that were purely destroying citizens around the world, using a system that was set up, that was so sophisticated. Many of them are in our forests. Many of them are cutting our trees unlawfully. Others are involved in galamsey activities. And many, many other crimes.
“For these two crimes, when we arrest any foreigner, we are not interested in prosecuting him. Our first option is to take them back to their country. And this is something that we are very serious about,” he said.
This announcement was corroborated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who said that foreigners caught engaging in illegal mining will face immediate deportation.
Limiting the age of ‘okada’ riders to 25 years:
A directive of the government, although it has not been made official yet, is the move to limit the age requirement for commercial riders of motorcycles and tricycles, popularly known as ‘okada’ and ‘pragyia,’ to 25 years.
The Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, on April 7, 2025, announced a move to amend the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180), to fulfil the promise of regularising the operation of commercial motorcycles and tricycles.
According to reports, the proposed amendment includes a minimum legal age of 25 years to qualify as an ‘okada’ or ‘pragyia’ rider.
It also introduces the issuance of commercial riders’ licences to all qualified ‘okada’ and ‘pragyia’ operators, along with a requirement to pass a proficiency test, which will include oral, theoretical, and eye examinations.
The proposal includes strict penalties; riders who operate outside of licensed unions or companies could face a fine of 100 penalty units, imprisonment, or both.
Termination of contracts at Ghana Post:
The government has also been bashed over the termination of 100 appointments at Ghana Post by the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George.
He described such appointments as a mess that he would not want to inherit.
“If you are a minister and you take over a ministry that has 3,117 staff in the ministry and its agencies and 600 were recruited after December 7, you cannot expect me to come and inherit such a mess, and so the rationalisation is ongoing,” he told the press on Tuesday, March 24, in Parliament.
He added, “Today, I have authorised a termination of a few more at Ghana Post, almost 100 that were done post-election.”
BAI/MA
Ever heard of a colonial fort with a children’s dungeon and a unique shrine for the slaves? Find out the details with Etsey Atisu as he toured Fort William at Anomabo below:
