President John Dramani Mahama has struck an optimistic tone for the year ahead, declaring that Ghana is “rising again” after a year of stabilisation and reform, and pledging to accelerate national development efforts in 2026 under his Reset Agenda.
In his New Year address, the President said his administration had inherited a nation in deep economic distress but had since laid the foundations for recovery built on discipline, credibility and restored confidence.
“One year ago, we inherited a nation in distress. An economy on its knees, unemployment crushing our youth, infrastructure crumbling, public trust eroded, and hope dimming in the eyes of our people,” he recalled. “At the dawn of the New Year, I stand before you to say, our beloved nation, Ghana, is rising again.”
As he reflected on his first year in office, President Mahama described his pledge to reset Ghana as a solemn commitment rather than a campaign slogan. “I can confirm that the promise of renewal we made was not mere rhetoric. It was a covenant. And we have begun to deliver on that covenant,” he said.
He pointed to improving macroeconomic indicators as proof that the recovery was real. Inflation, which stood at “23% and above by the end of 2024”, has been sharply reduced, with the government hopeful of closing 2025 “in the single digits, just above 5%”.
The President also cited currency stability and renewed investor confidence, saying Ghana was on course to rank among the world’s best-performing currencies in 2025, while domestic and foreign direct investment had increased.
On the international front, he said Ghana had renegotiated its debt “on terms that protect our sovereignty while ensuring sustainability” and was beginning to exit the IMF programme “with dignity, not as supplicants, but as partners”.
According to President Mahama, the economic turnaround was already fuelling growth in construction, manufacturing, agriculture and services, creating jobs for young people, whom he described as the country’s greatest resource.
He said nationwide infrastructure rehabilitation was ongoing, with more than 2,000 kilometres of roads under construction, improved electricity reliability, and rural electrification extended to over 1,000 additional communities.
Beyond Ghana’s borders, the President said the Reset Agenda had repositioned the country globally, describing it as “a new way of looking at things both domestically and globally”.
He highlighted the Accra Reset Initiative, launched at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, as Ghana’s contribution to reforming global governance systems that disadvantage Africa and the Global South.
“This is our moment. This is Ghana’s moment to lead,” he said, adding, “We in Ghana have proved in 2025 that democracy works, that peaceful transitions of power strengthen us rather than weaken us.”
Looking to 2026, President Mahama said the progress made so far was only the beginning. He announced plans to fast-track digital education, operationalise universal health coverage through the Free Primary Health Care Programme, and support patients with non-communicable diseases via the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
He also pledged to commercialise agriculture, expand renewable energy to 30 per cent of the national mix, deliver social housing through public-private partnerships, and deepen the anti-corruption drive with “no sacred cows”.
“We shall intensify the fight against corruption with no sacred cows. Every cedi belongs to the people and must be accounted for,” he said.
The President further announced plans to implement recommendations of the Constitution Review Committee to strengthen democratic governance.
In a call to national participation, he urged young people to “innovate, create and build”, assured businesses of a stable operating environment, encouraged civil society and the media to remain vigilant, and appealed to traditional and faith leaders to help foster unity.
He ended with a strong appeal for national cohesion, declaring: “There is no NPP Ghana. There is no CPP Ghana or NDC Ghana. There is only one Ghana.”
“This is not wishful thinking,” President Mahama concluded. “This is the Ghana we are building together. This is the Ghana that is within our reach.”
