âš–ï¸ Promises Kept
1.
Tax Rollbacks & Business Relief
Mahama abolished the e-levy, betting tax, and emissions levy as promised. This tax relief was widely welcomed by citizens and small-business owners. It also helped offset revenue foregone by establishing the new Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), aimed at capturing gold export revenues .
2.
Swift Cabinet Appointments
He delivered on his pledge to nominate—and swiftly vet—42 ministers within two weeks, later expanding to 56 ministers and deputies under the “leanest government†promise . This demonstrated administrative efficiency early on.
3.
Anti‑Corruption Drive
Under the “Operation Recover All Loot†initiative, Mahama’s administration investigated high-profile figures from the previous government (e.g., Ken Ofori‑Atta), even issuing an Interpol red notice in one case . While arrests and interrogations were highly visible, critics note that few prosecutions have advanced .
4.
Task Force Against Galamsey
On July 8, Mahama launched the GoldBod Task Force and a military-police unit armed with body cameras to clamp down on illegal artisanal gold mining (galamsey) . While the structures are in place, enforcement remains the critical test .
5.
Social and Digital Initiatives
Mahama launched educational support initiatives—free sanitary pads for schoolgirls, free tertiary education for people with disabilities—as well as the “One Million Coders Programme†to boost digital skills . The groundwork is laid, but scaling remains ongoing.
🟠Promises Partially Kept or Ongoing
- National Economic Dialogue & 24‑Hour Economy: The Economic Dialogue has been convened, and key advisers appointed in preparation for a 24‑hour economy—but actual roll-out remains pending .
- Environmental Initiatives: The “Tree for Life†and “Blue Water†initiatives were launched, and illegal mining halted in reserves—but a full repeal of mining laws has yet to happen, falling short of campaign promises .
🚫 Promises Broken or Not Delivered
- Energy Stability (Dumsor): Persistent power outages continue despite assurances of improvement .
- Power Sector Reform & Job Creation Council: No concrete actions yet on accelerating export growth or establishing the Export Development Council ().
- Vehicle Import Tax Review: There has been little progress reviewing taxes on imported vehicles and equipment .
- Judicial and Institutional Reforms: Groups like the CDM rated Mahama between 25%–40% (1/4 to 4/10), criticizing selective justice and executive overreach in dropped corruption cases—e.g., Nolle prosequi actions on Ambulance Deal and Saglemi Housing .
🔠Analysis & Public Sentiment
Reports suggest around 13 of 25 pledges (≈52%) of the 120‑Day Social Contract have been fulfilled, with 4 partially addressed and 4 broken . Public sentiment remains cautiously optimistic: global polling shows 62% believe Ghana is headed in the right direction, while opposition-heavy regions like Ashanti remain sceptical .
Nonetheless, power outages, enforcement of anti‑corruption, and environmental regulation remain concerns. Opposition critics—including Dr. Napo and the Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM)—warn that symbolic actions must transition into systemic reform, urging Mahama to “rise above†rhetoric and deliver structural change .
✅ Verdict: Cautiously Promising but Work Remains
Mahama’s first 100 days show a mix of bold policy action and follow-through faltering on key fronts. He scored major wins on tax relief, cabinet reform, anti‑corruption visibility, and environmental signalling—but stability in power supply, enforcement of mining and corruption laws, and institutional reforms must follow to sustain confidence.
As Ghana advances into the next quarter, its citizens will watch whether symbolic beginnings evolve into deep, lasting progress—or if early momentum evaporates under the weight of systemic challenges.