President John Dramani Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to resetting Ghana and promoting good governance and accountability during a meeting with the Ghanaian community in Addis Ababa Sunday evening at the Residence of the Ghanaian Ambassador to Ethiopia.
The gathering was part of his visit to Ethiopia for the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
The evening, which began with heartfelt speeches, seamlessly transitioned into a vibrant buffet dinner as the scent of exotic spices wafted through the air, teasing the taste buds and drawing everyone to the delectable spread of Ghanaian cuisine.
Tasks ahead
Addressing the Ghanaian community before dinner, President Mahama emphasised that the government’s major tasks ahead were to amend the constitution, hold past and present government officials accountable and stabilise the economy.
President Mahama painted a candid picture of Ghana’s economic struggles, revealing that the country has been grappling with a severe economic crisis marked by unstable macroeconomic indicators.
“We have been going through a severe economic crisis with very unstable macroeconomic indicators,” he said.
The economic woes have been further complicated by Ghana’s debt crisis, with President Mahama noting that the country, under the previous administration was forced to admit to the international community that it was unable to pay its debt.
“For the first time in recent memory, we had to tell the rest of the world that we can’t pay our debt,” he said.
To mitigate this risk, President Mahama said the government plans to re-establish the Sinking Fund to prevent future default.
However, President Mahama said the government’s fiscal space remains severely constrained, with high expectations from citizens and limited resources to meet them.
A significant challenge facing the administration is the legacy of unfinished projects initiated by the previous government, including over 80 hospitals that require more than $1 billion to complete.
Accountability
Touching on accountability, President Mahama said while the government will go after corrupt officials in the previous government, appointees in his government would also be held accountable according to their stewardship.
“Those of us in leadership must lead by example, be prepared to be held accountable for taking the public trust” President Mahama said.
President Mahama said while people are excited about receiving appointments, they all must be reminded that, “The green letter comes with a lot of responsibilities.”
International roles
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, highlighted Ghana’s impressive performance in the recent African Union elections, where the country secured three positions.
Mr Ablakwa attributed this success to the trust and confidence that Africans have in Ghanaians, saying “Everyone on the continent believes that Ghanaians can be trusted, they will deliver.”
Mr Ablakwa also emphasised the need for Ghana to increase its representation in international organizations.
He noted that Ghana has only filled 43 per cent of its allocation at the African Union, and called for more resources to be committed to support Ghanaians in leadership positions.
To address this, Mr Ablakwa announced that President Mahama will provide budgetary support to hire professionals to assist Ghanaians in leadership positions at the AU.
He said the government will also make resources available to Ghanaians seeking leadership positions in international organizations to campaign and draw the necessary support for a successful bidding.
Solidarity
The President of the Ghana Community in Ethiopia, Joseph Ofosu-Appiah Duah who delivered a speech on behalf of the community, congratulated President John Dramani Mahama on his re-election in the December 7, 2024, elections.
He expressed the community’s confidence in President Mahama’s leadership, vision, and dedication to national development, believing that Ghana will continue to be a beacon of democracy, stability, and progress on the African continent under his stewardship.
The community acknowledged President Mahama’s commitment to fighting corruption and promoting transparency in governance, as well as his efforts to strengthen institutions and uphold the rule of law.
They encouraged him to deepen these reforms to ensure accountability and good governance for generations to come.
The Ghana Community in Ethiopia also appreciated President Mahama’s dedication to empowering the youth of Ghana.
However, they appealed to President Mahama to champion the placement and advancement of Ghanaians in international organizations, particularly the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations (UN).
