President John Dramani Mahama’s 120-day social contract is fast approaching its deadline, with only 18 days remaining, and the nation is keenly watching. Out of 26 pledges made during his campaign, 12 have been successfully fulfilled, while others are at various stages of implementation. However, some key promises remain untouched, sparking public interest in what the final stretch will look like.
So far, Mahama has delivered on notable pledges that centre around economic relief, transparency, health, and environmental sustainability. He swiftly named his cabinet within the promised two-week period, trimming down the size of government to cut public spending. Significant milestones include the launch of the MahamaCares Health Fund, the One Million Coders Programme, and the abolition of taxes such as the E-Levy, Bet Tax, and Emissions Levy, which have brought much-needed financial relief to citizens and small businesses. The National Economic Dialogue and Education Dialogue have also been held, gathering expert opinions on shaping a forward-looking national strategy.
Additionally, Mahama introduced environmental initiatives such as the Tree for Life and Blue Water projects. In a show of gender sensitivity, a Women’s Development Bank has been funded, aimed at empowering female entrepreneurs. Moreover, the government has reopened high-profile criminal investigations, including the long-awaited inquiry into the murder of journalist Ahmed Suale. Victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage have also begun receiving compensation, fulfilling a promise to provide disaster relief.
Despite these efforts, several initiatives are still in progress or pending rollout. The government has allocated resources for the free distribution of sanitary pads to students, but the actual distribution is yet to commence. Likewise, investigations into the National Cathedral, the Sky Train project, and the implementation of the No-Academic-Fee policy are still ongoing.
Several critical pledges, however, remain untouched. These include the ban on illegal mining in forest reserves, the prohibition of political appointees from acquiring state assets, and drafting a code of conduct for government appointees. The legal groundwork for the 24-hour economy, a key campaign promise, is yet to be completed. Others still pending include the establishment of the Accelerated Export Development Council, free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, and the launch of the Black Star Experience tourism initiative.
Also missing in action are legislative reforms such as the Scholarship Bill to curb favouritism, the review of the Customs (Amendment) Act on salvaged vehicles, and the abolition of the COVID Levy. Programs like Adwumawura and the National Apprenticeship scheme for job creation have not yet been activated, and plans to realign state-owned enterprises into profit-making entities are still at the proposal stage.
With just over two weeks remaining, Ghanaians are closely monitoring the administration’s ability to close the gap between pledges and delivery. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the president's ambitious roadmap translates into real transformation or leaves key issues unresolved.
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