President-elect John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to pragmatic governance, stressing the need to align campaign promises with the realities of Ghana’s economic and social challenges.
He made these comments during a courtesy call by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Charles Abani, in Accra. He stressed that while his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), made numerous promises during the election campaign, the government must now focus on assessing the prevailing circumstances to determine the best path forward.
Debt management
Mr Mahama highlighted debt repayment as a critical concern for the incoming government, noting that addressing Ghana’s fiscal challenges would be central to his administration’s agenda.
“One of our main concerns is the issue of debt repayments. We need to see how we can smooth them so that we don’t default again, as such a scenario would be even more catastrophic than our current predicament,” he said.
The President-elect disclosed that discussions had already been initiated with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address these pressing issues. He stressed the importance of continuing these engagements to stabilize the economy, and chart a sustainable path forward.
Adapting existing programmes
Mr Mahama also emphasised the need to revisit and tweak existing government programmes to reflect the challenges of the present.
“We look forward to working with the UN and other international partners to adapt programmes to today’s realities. Ghana still faces significant challenges, and the support of agencies like UNICEF and UNHCR will be instrumental in helping us get back on our feet,” he stated.
International collaboration
Mr Mahama expressed gratitude for the UN’s longstanding relationship with Ghana and underscored the importance of deepening cooperation.
“Ghana has a long-standing relationship with all UN agencies. Having been President before, I know the critical role these agencies play. Now, more than ever, we need your support to navigate the crises we face and restore Ghana’s reputation as a model of peace, security, and democracy in West Africa,” he said.
Managing expectations
The President-elect acknowledged the immense expectations placed on his administration, citing his decisive election victory as a clear signal of Ghanaians’ hopes for change.
“I anticipated we were going to win, but I didn’t foresee the margin. It’s clear that Ghanaians have very high expectations. Managing those expectations and delivering results will be a tough task, but I am committed to working as quickly and effectively as possible,” Mr Mahama assured.
Food security concerns
Mr Mahama also pointed to the erratic rainfall patterns of recent years as a potential threat to food security. He highlighted the importance of swift action to mitigate the anticipated challenges.
“We anticipate issues with food availability due to erratic rainfall patterns in the last five years. Accelerating support to address this situation will be crucial, and we look forward to collaborating with relevant UN agencies to tackle this challenge,” he added.
Commendation
In his remarks, Charles Abani congratulated Mr Mahama on his election victory, lauding the peaceful electoral process and Ghana’s continued role as a beacon of democracy in West Africa. He also celebrated the historic milestone of Ghana electing its first female Vice President.
“Your ascension to office brings Ghana a significant achievement with the first female Vice President. The UN stands fully with you and your administration, ready to collaborate in addressing the challenges ahead,” Abani indicated.
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