On January 7, 2025, president elect, Ababio, John Dramani Mahama will be sworn in for the third time as the president of Ghana for his final four-year term and will be ineligible to contest again. When I saw his “First 120 Days Social Contract with the People of Ghana”, I asked myself whether the incoming president and his NDC party fully appreciate what is about to hit them in government from day one. Then the attacks, looting and destruction of state institutions by criminals parading as NDC members and supporters convinced me that, some of them do not fully appreciate the magnitude of the inheritance from the previous government. This article is a discussion of some of what will be in the In-Trays of the new government with some unsolicited advice.

J D Mahama won the presidential election in a landslide and his party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) is on course to win two-thirds majority in the legislature. The results were total wipe out for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NDC). However, the state of Ghana’s economy and institutions and the expectations of the people as well as the campaign promises are that a tsunami is about to hit the new president and his government, yet to be constituted.

Let me first address the 120 Social Contract before other problems. Out of the twenty-six key policy objectives, only four have defined target dates. These are 1, 2, 5 and 6. For the avoidance of any doubt, I reproduce them as follows: “Nominate within the first 14 days the complete list of Cabinet Ministers for parliamentary approval; Constitute the LEANEST AND MOST EFFICIENT government under the fourth republic in my first 90 days in office; Within my first 90 days in office, scrap the following draconian taxes to alleviate hardships and ease the high cost of doing business; E-levy, COVID levy, 10% levy on bet winnings, and Emissions levy and Within my first 90 days in office, review taxes and levies on vehicles and equipment imported into the country for industrial and agricultural purposes”.

Mr President-elect, the lack of target dates for the remaining 21 policy objectives are suggestive that they will all be attained in 120 days from 7 January 2025. That could be an indication that you might have bitten more than you can chew but I will give you the benefit of the doubt. I also do not understand why it will take you three good months to constitute your full government when time is not on your side.

Another problem is the removal of taxes such as E-levy, COVID levy and others without any indication of how you plan to replace these income generating levies. The question is, how would you pay for the cost of the Social Contract in the first 120 days when there is pressure from government expenditures? (see, “If you remove betting tax and e-levy, where will revenue come from? - Joe Jackson to Mahama”, Ghanaweb, December 2024). The good news is that the economy is showing sign of improvement but removal of all these taxes will affect how you government will pay for its recurrent expenditures (see, “Positive signals show that the economy is bouncing back- Seth Terkper”, Ghanaweb, December 13, 2024.

Now, let me turn to some urgent problems that are not on your 26 key policy objectives. The first is your nemesis, “Dumsor”, which caused your defeat in 2016. Mr President-elect, I know I don’t live in Ghana but when I was there in May/June 2024, there were regular power cuts in both rural and urban Ghana because I experience it and I am also aware from the Ghanaian media that the outgoing government is currently experiencing difficulties paying the Independent Power Producers whilst the Electricity Company of Ghana is unable to collect monthly bills from consumers. Therefore, dumsor is just at the corner and Ghanaians will blame you for it and it could be a second albatross on your neck (see, “Energy sector faces ‘systematic decimation,’ needs urgent fix’ – ACEP’s Ben Boakye to Mahama”, myjoyonline, December 11, 2024).
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Regular availability and supply of energy and electricity is critical for the growth of the economy, particularly your policy objective 7 “the 24 Hour Economy”. Mr President-elect, 24-hour economy to me is not a policy but demand driven condition such as the night market at Osu. The stack reality is, without 24-hour supply of energy and electricity, forget your 24-hour economy. It will not take off; therefore, energy and electricity availability should be your topmost priority, but it’s excluded from your 120 Day Social Contract.

I am also encouraged by your key policy objective 3 (“Establish a robust CODE OF CONDUCT AND STANDARDS for all government officials”). This is very important to avoid the arrogance and corruption in public office. I encourage you to have a look at best practices across the globe and for that reason, I will recommend the UK’s Ministerial Code, updated in November 2024, the Civil Service Code for political appointees and Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies which all available on the web. In fact, the Nordic countries are have higher code of conduct and standards for public officials and I strong urge you to get copies from them to adapt to suit Ghana’s needs.

Mr President Elect, I did not see Declaration of Assets by your appointees in your 120 Day Social Contract. If you are serious about fighting corruption, all your ministers and appointees from the cabinet, chief executives, board members of public institutions, to MMDCEs must all declare their assets either before within 30 days of taking office.

What about the abolition of the Ex-gratia award to Article 71 holders? It’s a financial burden on the state. MPs should not get nearly half a million cedis retirement package every four years. No country could afford that and not even the wealthy countries do that. In the UK MPs have pensions and are given resettlement package only when they lose their seats in an election.

Please ensure the strict enforcement of the Procurement Act to avoid public procurement being used as avenues for ministers and political appointees to enrich themselves. There should be no single purpose vehicle set up by politicians solely to bid for public juicy procurement contracts to siphon taxpayers’ money. That has been the practice throughout the Fourth Republic and must end with your second term.

Witchhunting