On the campaign trail for his #Mahama4Change2024 tour, Central Region, where he voiced deep concerns over the government’s handling of Ghana’s economy. Drawing on a recent personal and public tragedy, Mr. Mahama cited the passing of Dr. Michael Agyekum Addo, CEO of Kama Group of Companies, as emblematic of the struggles Ghanaians are facing under the current administration.
Mr. Mahama pointed to the late Dr. Addo’s experience as a cautionary tale. The CEO, who had openly criticised the government’s Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), reportedly lost his life savings due to financial strain attributed to the program. Mahama suggested that this stress could have contributed to Dr. Addo’s untimely death, illustrating the human toll of economic policies that, he argued, have plunged citizens into financial despair.
“This isn’t just one man’s story; it’s the reality faced by many Ghanaians every day,” Mahama emphasized. He underscored that such financial hardship has become a shared experience under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration, which he blamed for mismanaging the economy and deepening the national debt. “As a people, we cannot sit idle while our brothers and sisters suffer,” he said.
Mr. Mahama also highlighted that during his presidency, significant investments were made to build solid infrastructure across the country, including interchanges, schools, and hospitals. He pointed to the transformation of Kasoa, which he said had evolved from a small town into a rapidly developing urban centre under his administration. These developments, he added, brought tangible progress to the lives of ordinary Ghanaians and helped bolster the local economy.
Outlining the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) vision for economic recovery, Mr. Mahama unveiled key initiatives from the party’s ‘Resetting Ghana’ manifesto. He detailed the NDC’s plan to reinvigorate sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and the creative industry.
He pledged that, if elected, he would implement a “24-hour economy” strategy, allowing businesses to operate around the clock to create more jobs and drive economic growth. He added that this shift, alongside targeted investments, would position Ghana for a sustainable economic resurgence.
The former president reaffirmed the NDC’s commitment to social welfare, emphasising support for the elderly, whose pensions and investments have been threatened by current economic policies. The NDC’s manifesto, he assured, promises to prioritise the healthcare and welfare needs of senior citizens.
Throughout his tour, Mahama noted, he has seen the toll that economic hardship is taking on communities across Ghana. He described a groundswell of frustration and a strong desire for urgent economic reform among Ghanaians. “The people are calling for responsible governance and leadership that will ease their burdens,” he said.
Mr. Mahama concluded by urging Ghanaians to reflect on the challenges they face daily and to consider the need for a change in leadership in the upcoming December elections, promising that, under the NDC, Ghana’s economy would be reset to restore stability and hope for the future.
