SONA: Let’s translate gains into tangible benefit

President Mahama's State of the Nation Address (SONA) presented a narrative of progress and resilience.

While it acknowledged that challenges persist, the administration's commitment to fiscal discipline and economic reform has yielded positive results so far, providing hope for the future.

The SONA, indeed, presented a mixed bag of achievements and challenges.

On the one hand, the President highlighted significant progress in stabilising the economy, with inflation falling to 3.8 per cent in January 2026, the lowest in decades.

The cedi has also found stability, thanks to a $2.8 billion debt restructuring deal and aggressive monetary policy efforts by the Bank of Ghana.

Among the major highlights of the SONA, the President devoted time and space for the "Resetting Ghana" agenda, centred around the 24-hour economy, which aims to drive industrial growth and job creation, while initiatives such as the National Apprenticeship Programme and the Adwumawura scheme were mentioned as activities expected to skill and employ thousands of youth.

While the success of the 24-hour economy hinges on addressing infrastructure gaps, corruption, and skills mismatches, the National Apprenticeship Programme and Adwumawura scheme are steps in the right direction, although more needs to be done to equip Ghana's youth with industry-relevant skills.

The administration's focus on infrastructure development, including the Accra-Kumasi Expressway and Oxygen City project, is, therefore, most commendable.

Critics argue that the gains so far have come at a cost.

The cocoa producer price cut, for instance, has sparked protests among farmers.

The President acknowledged the difficulty of this decision, but emphasised its necessity for the sector's long-term sustainability.

The Daily Graphic believes that the cocoa sector's challenges underscore the need for sustainable solutions.

The producer price cut, while painful, may be a necessary evil if it ensures the sector's long-term viability.

Farmers must be supported with modern inputs, infrastructure, and fair pricing mechanisms.

Ultimately, accountability and transparency have become essential commodities in addressing the cocoa pricing issues comprehensively to bring all stakeholders to the same page and to win the buy-in of all parties on all major decisions.

The fight against illegal mining, commonly called galamsey, received a boost with the deployment of specialised prosecutorial teams to target financiers.

This move is expected to curb environmental degradation and restore the sector's credibility.

On the international front, Ghana's diplomatic efforts are yielding results.

The country has secured new visa waiver agreements with 11 countries and is set to table a United Nations resolution recognising the Transatlantic Slave Trade as a crime against humanity.

Indeed, Ghana has earned international recognition for the push for reparations for slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, with President Mahama formally declared the African Union Champion of the cause.

Despite these achievements, critics are still sceptical about the sustainability of the gains.

The cost of living remains high, and the benefits of economic recovery have been slow in trickling down to the average citizen.

For example, the strength of the cedi has not been felt in areas such as the cost of automobile spare parts and the cost of vehicles generally.

At least, not in the manner it has impacted the cost of fuel at the pump.

Ultimately, Ghana's economic recovery requires inclusive growth, transparency, and accountability.

The government must prioritise citizen engagement, ensure equitable resource distribution, and tackle corruption.

Only then can Ghanaians truly feel the benefits of economic progress.

Accountability must not be limited to political opponents.

The revelation by the President that up to 15 cases of corruption are currently before the court, with dozens of others being investigated, should give the public the hope that an era of intolerance to corruption has arrived with an even hand.

The test now is to translate these gains into tangible benefits.