Mahama — The halfway bend
How time flies. Tomorrow, January 7, 2015, marks exactly two years of John Dramani Mahama's presidency.
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Having been elected the fourth President of the 4th Republic following his victory in the 2012 presidential election, Mr Mahama held the Bible to take and subscribe before Parliament, which convened at the Black Star Square, the oath of allegiance and the presidential oath administered by the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood.
Momentous occasion
It was a momentous occasion for Mr Mahama, who had to use barely four months to traverse the length and breadth of the country to campaign following the death of President John Evans Atta Mills, to win an election that was later faced with an eight-month legal dispute, as the candidate of the main opposition New Patriotic Party ( NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, challenged the results in the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court eventually affirmed the results of the election as announced by the Electoral Commission. Many people believed that the long legal battle contributed to drawing the nation's development back.
The NPP boycotted the inauguration of the President and some of the hard-core youth did the unbelievable by trying to force former President John Kufuor to shelve his decision to attend the ceremony.
Assessment
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since that period and two years on, Ghanaians are making their assessment of the performance of President Mahama.
Some of the administration's critics have pummelled the President for not doing much to positively change the fortunes of the country.
Nonetheless, he says he remains unperturbed and is determined to continue to work hard to carry through his vision of a Better Ghana even in the face of the economic challenges.
But, too much politicisation of developments in the country sometimes leaves many wondering whether people are making a fair assessment of the President’s performance.
Many are blinded by the political lenses they wear and one can clearly decipher their lines of assessment.
Notwithstanding this, it is fair for a critical look at the oath the President swore, and his party's own manifesto, to evaluate his work.
Mr Mahama is aware that in two years time, he will put himself up again to seek the mandate of the people for a second four-year term.
No Ghanaian sitting President has lost a re-election bid, and President Mahama and his party, the National Democratic Congress ( NDC) will surely seek to maintain the status quo in 2016 even as a red-eyed opposition NPP try all means to reverse history.
Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah once said, "Seek ye first the political kingdom and all other things shall be added unto you.”
Former President Kufour also has a similar saying — he stated that it was better to be a messenger in a party in government than a general secretary of a party in opposition.
Invariably, the two former presidents were trying to drive home the point that winning power should be the major preoccupation of any political party because without that the party cannot carry through its policies, no matter how lofty they are.
But, sight must not be lost of the fact that the importance of our democratic dispensation does not lie merely in winning political power but improving the wellbeing of the people.
Dishonesty
It is true that the economy has faced some serious difficulties, especially in 2014, but it will be the height of dishonesty for anyone to say the President has not done anything meaningful since assuming the highest office of the land.
It is a fact that Ghana is confronted with enormous macroeconomic challenges. The widening gap of the budget deficit, for instance, has been a major constraint to fiscal and debt sustainability.
To reverse the disturbing situation, the government has moved to the International Monetary Fund ( IMF) for support and is currently discussing a four-year programme with the Breton Woods institution in that respect.
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Some critics say it is too late for the government to expect anything meaningful from the IMF, but the government thinks otherwise.
Refreshingly, even before the IMF programme comes on board, the implementation of some home-grown measures has brought some level of hope to the economy.
The national currency, the cedi, for instance, which plummeted to about 17 per cent within three months last year, has seen remarkable stability for some time now.
A President comes into office inheriting assets and liabilities, but Mr Mahama was unlucky to inherit some of the terrible rots in the country over the years. A typical example is poor electricity generation. Years of neglect to shore up generation is now biting the nation hard, power is being rationed.
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Corruption
The much talked about corruption appears to have put the President on the back foot, but he has gradually warmed himself in, showing that he can bite.
Admittedly, however, he must stretch the whipping rod further.
Infrastructural development
In education, health, roads , electricity extension, water and sanitation, among other sectors, Mr Mahama has scored some appreciable marks with a number of projects. Evidence abounds in the regions. But, again, there is room for improvement.
International front
On the international front, the image of the President continues to soar as his leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has resulted in some tremendous strides by the sub-regional body. Yet, there is still some distance to travel, especially the security situation in Nigeria where the Boko Haram insurgency remains a blot on ECOWAS.
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Looking ahead
Without doubt, last year posed a great challenge to national development.
Multiple strikes by labour, the latest coming from the 17 affiliates of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) over the management of the Tier 2 pension, nearly paralysed the nation. However, the government managed to endure the massive industrial action, and the matter eventually ended up in court.
This year is very crucial for the President. He will have to carry through some of the yet-to-be-fulfilled promises as he prepares for the 2016 re-election bid.
If his New Year message is anything to go by, then Ghana will have something to be hopeful for this year.
Writer's email-kwame.boadu@graphic.com.gh