Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante
After a year in office, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government under the leadership of President John Mahama has been credited as showing positive signals in addressing economic challenges though structural weaknesses threatening the country’s democratic dividends persist.
Director of Policy Engagement and Partnerships at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, who said this during a presentation on assessing President Mahama’s first-year in office said challenges including human rights, low policy coordination among several others have to be tackled in earnest.
The event, which brought together stakeholders in academia, representatives from state institutions, and some members of Parliament, offered assessment on six thematic areas including democracy and rule of law, anti-corruption and accountability, economy and jobs, environment and social development, foreign affairs and regional integration, defence, security and peace building.
CDD-Ghana acknowledged early efforts by President Mahama’s government showing an open and consultative style of leadership, including the publication of a code of conduct for appointees, the establishment of a Constitutional Review Committee, and broader civil society engagement in national forums.
The report also highlighted Parliament’s progressive Standing Orders, adopted in 2024, which allow the opposition to chair many committees, which allowed for expansion and strengthening of checks and balances.
It, however, mentioned some concerns about the country’s declining democratic quality citing violence and administrative disruptions during the transition period.
CDD-Ghana also mentioned incidents involving party-affiliated groups who besieged public offices, including Ghana Gas, as well as unresolved legal and institutional gaps in the Presidential Transition Act.
According to Dr. Asante, while presidential-level transitions appeared cordial, middle and lower-level transitions at the local level were chaotic, creating uncertainty and occasional power vacuums.
“Mass revocations of last-minute appointments, the removal of CEO’s and dissolution of Boards, and directives affecting Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) further disrupted operations in some state institutions,” he stated.
The report also highlighted the need for the ruling governnment to be cautious of the use of its numbers in Parliament to pass certain bills within a short period of time under the certificate of urgency.
This, he mentioned, includes legislation on commercial motorcycles popularly called ‘Okada’ cryptocurrency and petroleum levies within a week.
The report also indicated that limited public engagement on major bills such as those bothering on the citizens could undermine transparency and lead to distrust for the ruling government.
“One of the most consequential developments of the year was the removal of the Chief Justice under Article 146 of the Constitution, the first of such action in the Fourth Republic,” he noted.
While CDD-Ghana acknowledged that constitutional procedures were followed, it urged the government to be transparent and recommended that the report of the investigative committee be made public to reinforce public confidence in the judiciary.
“There are structural concerns, including perceived conflicts of interest in the Article 146 process and the concentration of administrative powers in the Office of the Chief Justice,” he said.
CDD, therefore, called for constitutional reforms to strengthen judicial independence, including clearer safeguards in the appointment and removal processes.
Dr. Asante described illegal mining and environmental degradation as an important national security and public health threats adding that heavy metal pollution including mercury, continues to contaminate water bodies and food sources.
“The reset agenda has begun with promising signals,” the report suggests, “but institutional reforms and consistent adherence to democratic principles will determine whether the reset becomes transformative or merely symbolic,” Dr. Asante added.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah