The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has described President John Dramani Mahama’s first year in office as one marked by strong reform signals and visible corrective steps, but cautioned that significant structural governance gaps remain.
Presenting its “One-Year Assessment of the Mahama Administration (The Second Coming) in Accra yesterday”, the policy think tank characterised the administration’s overall performance as “mixed,” citing progress in institutional recalibration while warning that implementation deficits and democratic vulnerabilities could undermine the broader Reset Agenda.
The report assessed the President’s performance across six thematic areas; Democracy, Governance, Human Rights and the Rule of Law; Anti-Corruption and Accountability; Economy and Jobs; Environment and Social Development; Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; and Defence, Security and Peacebuilding.
The event brought together government officials, academia, the private sector, policy analysts among others.
Democracy, governance
CDD-Ghana observed that the administration sent positive democratic signals, including initiating constitutional review and reducing the size of government.
However, it indicated that concerns persisted over the use of certificates of urgency in Parliament, tensions following the removal of the Chief Justice, and unresolved transition-related violence.
While civic space remains generally open, incidents involving journalists, digital speech arrests and police conduct underscored what the report described as a mixed human rights record.
Anti-Corruption
On anti-corruption and accountability, the report credited the government for launching Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL), introducing a Code of Conduct for appointees and transitioning from the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan to a new ethics-focused framework.
It also stated that asset declaration compliance improved significantly after sanctions were imposed.
Nonetheless, the CDD flagged concerns about transparency in asset disclosures, legal ambiguities surrounding ORAL’s mandate, and the need to strengthen institutional independence to avoid perceptions of selective accountability.
Economy, jobs
On the economy, CDD-Ghana indicated early stabilisation efforts and fiscal discipline signals, including capping ministerial appointments at 60 and pledging to continue viable infrastructure projects.
The administration’s messaging had linked governance reforms to economic recovery and investor confidence.
However, the report stressed that long-term job creation and sustained macroeconomic stability will depend on deeper structural reforms, policy coordination and prudent management of public expenditure.
The assessment indicated that civic activism around environmental concerns, particularly illegal mining, has continued without excessive state suppression.
The administration’s broader social development posture had emphasised inclusion and stakeholder engagement.
Yet, policy think tank pointed to unresolved tensions around rights-based legislation and the need for clearer policy pathways to address vulnerable groups.
It urged stronger institutional coherence to ensure that environmental governance and social protection commitments translate into measurable outcomes.
Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration
CDD said the President’s high-level diplomatic engagements and participation in continental governance dialogues signal renewed commitment to regional stability and democratic norms.
Ghana continues to position itself as a credible actor within West Africa amid regional instability. However, the report noted that foreign policy coherence must align closely with domestic democratic consolidation to sustain Ghana’s leadership image and protect its standing in multilateral forums.
Security, Peacebuilding
The report highlighted transition-related vigilante incidents and ongoing security sector reform rhetoric as key features of the year.
While the broader security environment remained stable, the CDD cautioned that unresolved accountability in cases of political violence and concerns about policing practices could weaken public trust.
It recommended clearer legal frameworks on pre-trial detention and strengthened oversight mechanisms to reinforce rule of law and democratic resilience.
Good marker
He stressed that in the country’s four-year cycle, one year was a significant milestone for evaluating tone, momentum and policy direction, especially given constant political campaigning.
“We think one year is a good marker for assessing how the government is performing. And we’re happy this year also that we have the benefit of a number of experts and analysts and people who usually study and observe and monitor our government to join us to do this,” he added.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
