News
NDC Manifesto launch: Mahama pledges 120 days social contract with Ghanaians
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) the NDC has launched its 2024 manifesto promising jobs, accountability and transparency for Ghanaians.
As part of the manifesto, the former President and flagbearer, John Mahama also laid out his 120 days Social Contract with the people of Ghana.
According to the former President, John Dramani Mahama, Ghanaians are experiencing some economic hardships as a result of some bad policies of the current government.
For this reason, he said among other things that his government would do is to scrap nuisance taxes, improve education, implement a bold $10 billion infrastructure investment to cater for public housing projects.
MAHAMA’S FIRST 120 DAYS SOCIAL CONTRACT WITH THE PEOPLE OF GHANA.
1. Nominate within the first 14 days the complete list of Cabinet Ministers for parliamentary approval.
2. Constitute the LEANEST AND MOST EFFICIENT government under the fourth republic in my first 90 days in office.
3. Establish a robust CODE OF CONDUCT AND STANDARDS for all government officials.
4. Hold a National Economic Dialogue to discuss the true state of the economy and prepare a homegrown fiscal consolidation programme to guide the budget.
5. Within my first 90 days in office, scrap the following draconian taxes to alleviate hardships and ease the high cost of doing business: E-levy, COVID levy, 10% levy on bet winnings, and Emissions levy.
6. Within my first 90 days in office, review taxes and levies on vehicles and equipment imported into the country for industrial and agricultural purposes.
7. Commence drafting needed legal amendments and prepare for implementing the 24-Hour Economy Policy under the Office of the President.
8. Establish an Accelerated Export Development Council (AEDC) to promote exports as part of a broader strategy for economic transformation.
9. Convene a national consultative conference on EDUCATION to build consensus on needed improvements to the sector.
10. Implement the ‘No-Academic-Fee’ policy for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions—universities, colleges of education, nursing training institutions, etc.).
11. Introduce the following social interventions: Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities, the Ghana Medical Care Trust (MahamaCares) Fund.
12. Commence the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools.
13. Institute inquiries and/or forensic audits into the following matters of public interest: The collapse of Indigenous Ghanaian banks and financial institutions at a supposed cost of GHS25 billion, illegal printing of money, the US$58 million National Cathedral scandal, illegal and inflated single- sourced contracts, COVID-19 expenditure scandal, PDS, Agyapa, SML, Ambulance spare parts deal, 13th African Games, Sky Train, Pwalugu Dam, Maths Sets, Galamsey Fraud, missing excavators and tricycles, Sputnik-V, BOST Scandal, and others…
14. Institute a government policy banning political appointees from purchasing state assets.
15. Allocate seed money for the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank.
16. Launch the following priority job creation programmes in the first budget: ‘Adwumawura’ Programme, ‘National Apprenticeship Programme’ and ‘One Million Coders Programme’.
17. Commence the review of the Customs (Amendment) Act 2020 to scrap the law banning the importation of salvaged vehicles to rescue the local automotive industry at Suame Magazine, Kokompe, Abossey Okai, among others.
18. Lay before parliament a new bill to streamline government scholarship administration, prohibit political appointees from accessing government scholarships, and eliminate political patronage, cronyism, nepotism, and corruption in awarding government scholarships.
19. Ban illegal and new mining activities in forest reserves. Roll out our ‘Tree for Life’ and Blue Water Initiative’ to heal and sustainably harness the environment by turning areas and water bodies degraded by illegal mining into economic and ecological recovery hubs.
20. Launch ‘The Black Star Experience’ initiative as Ghana’s flagship Culture, Arts and Tourism brand to transform Ghana into a preferred tourism destination.
21. Commence investigative processes to purge state security agencies of all militia and vigilante elements.
22. Re-open investigations into major unresolved criminal cases including the 2020 election killings, Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence, murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale and Silas Wulochamey.
23. Initiate a probe into the man-made disaster caused by the VRA’s spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams that displaced and destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of citizens in the Volta, Eastern, and Greater Accra.
24. Initiate immediate steps to compensate the flood victims, including those in the Oti, Bono East and Savanna regions.
25. Carry out a shakeup of all loss-making SOEs and realign them to break even and transition into profit-making.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
Roads minister gives contractor two months to improve performance on Bediako Junction to Camp 15 to Sefwi Adabokrom road project
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has issued a two-month ultimatum to Delovely Construction Ltd. to improve work on the Bediako Junction to Camp 15 to Sewi Adabokrom road project or risk losing the contract.
He gave the directive during an inspection of the 55-kilometre project today, expressing disappointment in the slow pace of work.
According to him, the contractor has completed less than two per cent of the project, even though work should have reached about 20 per cent by now.
He noted that the contractor was given possession of the site about five months ago and should have made significant progress.
He explained that aside from clearing works along the stretch, there is little visible progress on the ground.
The minister described the performance as far below expectations and warned that the government will not tolerate further delays.
He stated that the contractor has been given two months to improve progress to at least 20 per cent, failing which the contract will be terminated and reassigned to another company.
He added that the government remains committed to completing the project on schedule and will not allow setbacks to delay its delivery.
He stressed that the road is important to the area, as it supports agriculture and the livelihoods of residents.
He said the project forms part of the government’s broader plan to improve road infrastructure and boost economic activity in the region.
He assured residents that regardless of the current contractor’s performance, the government will ensure the road is completed by November 30, 2027.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Government of Ghana has expressed concern over the worsening security situation in the Sahel region, following recent terrorist attacks in Mali that have claimed several lives, including that of the country’s Defence Minister.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 27, 2026, the government described the attacks, which occurred on Saturday, April 25, as coordinated strikes on multiple military positions, including the capital, Bamako.
The statement noted that the attacks led to the death of Mali’s Defence Minister, General Sadio Camara, along with other military personnel and civilians.
The government extended condolences to the people and government of Mali, describing the development as tragic, and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
It stressed that violent extremism has no place in the world and called for stronger collective efforts to combat such acts.
The ministry issued an advisory to Ghanaians living in Mali, urging them to be cautious and limit non-essential movements. It encouraged them to stay in regular contact with the Ghana Embassy in Bamako.
Ghanaian traders and drivers who use the Mali route for business have also been advised to suspend their activities until further notice, as authorities work to restore calm.
The statement indicated that the government is working closely with Malian authorities and will provide updates to support the safe resumption of trading activities.
It assured Ghanaian nationals in Mali that their safety and well-being remain a top priority.
By: Jacob Aggrey
