John Dramani Mahama
The 2024 flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), ex-President John Dramani Mahama, has unveiled a comprehensive policy agenda aimed at transforming Ghana’s economy, governance, education, and trade and industry sectors.
Dubbed the “NDC Policy Agenda for Ghana’s Transformation,” Mr. Mahama’s vision includes a wide range of initiatives designed to create a prosperous and inclusive Ghana.
Economy
Speaking at the NDC’s manifesto launch at Winneba at the weekend, Mr. Mahama promised to implement a 24-hour economy strategy, transform Ghana into an import substitution and export-led economy, and enhance access to public services.
He also vowed to stop the economic decline, restore stability and inclusive growth, and create more well-paying jobs for unemployed Ghanaians.
He again said he would abolish the e-levy and review the levy imposed on bet winnings, besides relocating some ministries out of the central business area to decongest Accra.
Mahama also pledged to lead a process to set a standardised limit for borrowing, ensure fiscal discipline in public administration, and launch an urgent economic recovery and fiscal consolidation plan within the first 100 days.
Governance
According to him, he plans to run a lean and efficient government, decentralise recruitment into security agencies, abolish the payment of ex-gratia, and set up a Commission of Enquiry to investigate looted state lands.
Education
In the education sector, the NDC flagbearer said he would establish libraries in primary schools, address textbook distribution, complete abandoned educational infrastructure, review and improve the free SHS/TVET policy, and guarantee timely disbursement of capitation grants.
He indicated that his policy agenda also includes anti-corruption measures such as setting up an Independent Value for Money Office, giving anti-corruption state institutions unfettered space to operate, and establishing a Governance Advisory Council.
Trade and Banking
For the NDC flagbearer, he plans to establish special zones in all 16 regions to add value to local crops and reduce raw material imports, rationalise fees at the port, and establish an Annual Presidential-CEO Dialogue to expand exports and leverage market access opportunities.
According to him, revamping the Tema Oil Refinery to process domestic crude oil forms part of his agenda.
The ex-President, who is staging a comeback to the presidency, also plans to reform the Bank of Ghana, rejuvenate the alleged collapsed banking and financial sector, and restore banking licenses that were “unjustly cancelled.”
Mr. Mahama said his second coming would see the establishment of farmers’ service centres nationwide to boost production and output, reviving the concept of school farms to feed students, and applying the Price Stabilisation Levy to cushion petroleum consumers.
Health Sector
In the healthcare sector, the NDC leader promised to remove taxes on essential medical supplies for dialysis, establish a Cancer and Kidney Disease Trust Fund, and scrap the quota system for admissions into nursing and teacher training colleges.
He said an NDC government led by him would implement a $10 billion, five-year investment plan, complete abandoned and ongoing projects, and carry out an inventory of all stalled or abandoned projects.
Transport and Housing
In the transportation sector, ex-President Mahama promised to restore road tolls, carve out a path for ‘Okada’ riders on newly constructed roads, and establish an assembly plant for electric motorbikes.
He disclosed that he would facilitate an affordable housing scheme for teachers and build teacher accommodation in basic schools.
Irrigation and others
According to him, a new NDC government will complete the Tamale Irrigation project, construct a potable water system for the people of Yendi, and build the Pwalugu dam.
The NDC’s policy agenda also includes plans to reverse the names of public universities re-named by the NPP, remove taxes on essential medical supplies, and establish a modern dialysis centre in the Upper East Region.
By Ernest Kofi Adu