SUMMARY: What John Mahama said in 2025 State of the Nation Address

President John Dramani Mahama has painted a stark picture of Ghana’s economic and social challenges in his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), delivered on February 27. He acknowledged that the country is facing a severe crisis but pledged to “reset Ghana” through economic recovery, governance reforms, and targeted interventions across various sectors.

Ghana in crisis: The need for a reset

President Mahama described the state of the nation as dire, with citizens experiencing “unprecedented hardships” and the economy in turmoil. He revealed that after assessing the government’s financial records, the crisis was even deeper than previously known.

“We have inherited a country that is broken on many fronts,” he stated, vowing to implement policies that will put Ghana on a path to recovery and growth.

Economic recovery and fiscal discipline

To restore economic stability, President Mahama’s administration has committed to reducing government expenditure and ensuring prudent debt management. Since taking office on January 7, he has:

• Cut the number of ministers and deputy ministers to 60.
• Streamlined staff at the Presidency.
• Honoured matured bond payments under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
• Signed an MoU with the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) to formalize debt treatment.

A National Economic Dialogue will be held to engage stakeholders before presenting the budget to Parliament.

Energy sector reform

President Mahama revealed that the energy sector is saddled with a staggering GHS 70 billion debt, with state-owned enterprises struggling to survive. His government plans to:

• Implement a single revenue collection account.
• Enforce the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM) to ensure fair distribution of funds.
• Eliminate wasteful expenditures.
• Involve the private sector in metering and billing.
• Fully utilize gas for power production and end the use of crude oil.

Agriculture and food security

Ghana’s reliance on food imports despite having fertile lands remains a concern. The government’s Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA) aims to:

• Modernize agriculture and boost agribusiness.
• Enhance food security and lower food inflation.
• Implement the Feed Ghana Programme, Vegetable Development Project, and a poultry farm-to-table initiative to cut imports.

Job creation and youth development

Tackling unemployment remains a key priority. Mahama announced several initiatives, including:

• Adwumawura Programme to fund and mentor young entrepreneurs.
• National Apprenticeship Programme to equip youth with employable skills.
• A hire-purchase scheme for electric motorcycles for “okada” riders.
• One Million Coders Programme to develop IT skills.

Education reforms

President Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to Free SHS but vowed to improve its implementation by:

• Eliminating the double-track system.
• Expanding STEM education.
• Improving the school feeding programme.
• Removing tertiary admission fees under a “no-fee stress policy,” supported by an upgraded Student Loan Plus scheme.
• Partnering with universities to build more student hostels.

Healthcare improvements

Ghana’s health sector faces severe challenges, including a cholera and meningitis outbreak and under-resourced hospitals. President Mahama pledged to:

• Complete the Agenda 111 hospitals with public-private partnerships.
• Launch the Free Primary Healthcare Programme.
• Establish the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCare) to fund treatment for non-communicable diseases.

Infrastructure and transport development

The road sector is in crisis due to unpaid debts. To address this, the government will:

• Reintroduce road tolls using modern technology.
• Minimize sole-source procurement.
• Conduct a feasibility study for coastal water transport services.
• Develop the Ho Airport into a pilot training academy and aircraft maintenance hub.

Fighting corruption

The President reaffirmed his administration’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption, launching Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) to retrieve stolen state funds. His government will:

• Establish a corruption complaints unit at the Presidency.
• Reform and properly fund anti-corruption agencies.
• Regulate the sale and disposal of state assets.

Social inclusion and gender equality

The government will:

• Establish a Women’s Development Bank.
• Expand the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme.
• Enforce a 5% employment quota for persons with disabilities in public and private institutions.

Conclusion

The President’s address outlined an ambitious plan to tackle Ghana’s challenges. He urged citizens to remain hopeful, stating:

“The state of our nation now may appear bleak, and the task of addressing it may seem daunting, but nothing should stop us from achieving our goals once we set our minds to them.”