President John Dramani Mahama has officially inaugurated a 19-member task force to oversee the implementation of his 120-day social contract. The task force, chaired by Senior Presidential Adviser Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, is responsible for executing key economic reforms, governance initiatives, and social interventions outlined in the 26-page contract.
Among the major promises to be fulfilled within the first 120 days are the scrapping of controversial taxes, including the E-Levy and betting tax, conducting forensic audits into high-profile corruption cases, and constituting the leanest and most efficient government under the Fourth Republic.
Taskforce composition
The task force includes key government officials and advisers:
- Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson – Minister for Finance
- John Jinapor – Minister for Energy
- Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare – Minister for Trade, Agribusiness & Industry
- Dominic Ayine – Attorney General
- Haruna Iddrisu – Minister for Education
- Dzifa Gomashie – Minister for Tourism
- George Opare Addo – Minister for Youth Development
- Agnes Naa Momo Lartey – Minister-Designate for Gender
- Kwabena Mintah Akandoh – Minister for Health
- Rashid Pelpuo – Minister for Employment
- Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah – Minister for Lands & Mineral Resources
- Samuel Nartey George – Minister for Communication, Digital Technology & Innovation
- Murtala Muhammed – Minister for Environment
- Goosie Tanoh – Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy
- Prosper Bani – National Security Adviser
- Kofi Boakye – Director of Operations
- Francis Dodoo – Presidential Adviser
- Joyce Bawah Mogtari – Presidential Adviser & Special Aide to the President
Taskforce committed to delivering promises
Speaking at the inauguration on Tuesday, February 11, Dr Valerie Sawyerr assured Ghanaians that the task force is fully committed to delivering on the President’s promises.
“We understand the seriousness of this mandate and the confidence reposed in us. Each promise was made with careful consideration, and we will ensure they are viable, achievable, and sustainable,” she stated.
She reaffirmed the task force’s determination to overcome obstacles and ensure the successful implementation of the outlined policies.
Key initiatives in Mahama’s 120-day social contract
The social contract includes:
- Establishing a code of conduct for government officials
- Scrapping the E-Levy, COVID-19 levy, and other taxes to ease economic burdens
- Implementing a 24-hour economy policy
- Launching a ‘no-academic-fee’ policy and free tertiary education for persons with disabilities
- Distributing free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools
- Conducting forensic audits into controversial state deals
- Banning political appointees from purchasing state assets
- Allocating seed money for a women’s development bank
- Enforcing a ban on illegal mining and launching environmental recovery initiatives
Dr. Sawyerr emphasized that the government will not waver in fulfilling these commitments. “We will not fail the President, and we will not fail the people of Ghana,” she declared.
