JM resets and repairs Ghana: Truly a time for reparations (Reflection: January 7, 2025 – January 7, 2026)
One year into President John Dramani Mahama’s second administration, Ghana may not yet be rebuilt, but it has been decisively reoriented.
The national reset mindset has begun.
On January 7, 2025, the new government inherited an economy in distress: rising living costs, currency instability, high debt, and weak public trust within the restrictive confines of an IMF programme.
In twelve months, however, the foundations of a national reset have been laid through better leadership, expenditure restraint, policy discipline and credible intent.
Having worked closely with President Mahama since we served under President Rawlings in the Communications Ministry, I have consistently observed his defining traits: wide vision, calm urgency, strategic clarity, and insistence on execution.
My appointment as Presidential Special Envoy for Reparations reflects his ethos for competence and relevance, not for symbolism.
Signs of economic stabilisation
The clearest gains are in macroeconomic stability. Inflation fell from 23.8% in December 2024 to 6.3% by November 2025.
The cedi stabilised, with the US dollar reported mid-rate at GH₵10.60 in early January 2026.
Fuel prices dropped from GH₵ 15.30 per litre in January 2025 to GH₵ 10.86 by January 2026.
Gold reserves rose from 30.53 tonnes in Dec 2024 to 38 tonnes by Oct 2025, supported by GoldBod reforms targeting smuggling and value retention.
Central government debt dropped from 63.2% of GDP in 2024 to 43.8% by mid-2025. These results restored global confidence: Fitch Ratings upgraded Ghana to 'B-', and the IMF disbursed US$385 million, bringing total support to US$2.8 billion.
The policy rate was reduced from 27% to 18%, hopefully pointing to further interest rate reductions.
Governance by restraint
This reset extended to leadership culture. Ministerial appointments were capped at 60, pay-TV subscriptions at the presidency were cancelled, and fuel allowances for appointees were withdrawn.
These were not austerity stunts but signals of shared sacrifice and a break from privilege politics.
Most government agencies endured modest to serve budget non-disbursement to help achieve stellar fiscal and inflation-busting results.
Delivery under constraints
In a resource-constrained environment, the government was expected to deliver first.
My own office, the Office for Global Reparations (OGR), has operated with minimal support, yet we moved dramatically forward.
The principle has been clear: begin work, earn resources through performance, and prioritise impact and seek payments later.
Though not ideal, this has encouraged a culture of discipline in governance.
Key policy highlights
Across sectors, reforms advanced. Parliament passed amendments to limit the central bank's lending to the government.
In health, the Mahama Cares fund, and in education, the No-Academic-Fees Policy have eased financial pressure, while youth skills development has expanded.
In social welfare, free sanitary pads are being distributed to support girls’ dignity and school attendance.
The 24-Hour Economy project and programmes have been launched and are being aggressively implemented.
Energy sector reforms have focused on arrears and efficiency.
On the global front, Ghana has signed new MoUs with China, Japan, Singapore and others, deepening our economic diplomacy footprint.
Reparations policy
President Mahama’s appointment as African Union Champion for Reparations and my appointment as Presidential Special Envoy have made it clear to the world that Reparations is not rhetoric but state policy. In December 2025, Ghana hosted global reparations experts to coordinate a strategy rooted in development logic. Key pillars include education, healthcare equity, expatriation and cultural and economic restitution.
Guardrails and Challenges
This administration’s first year has been scandal-free, a notable contrast to Ex- President Nana Addo-Bawumia’s government, which faced controversies such as plagiarism, appointments-for-cash and dinner seats, the BOST fuel issue, vigilantism (Delta Force) and the GH₵800,000 website scandal.
By contrast, this government has leaned on KPIs, ethical enforcement and evidence-based communication.
Nonetheless, challenges remain. Illegal mining (galamsey) continues to pollute over 60% of major rivers, including Pra, Offin and Ankobra. Youth unemployment was 19.7% in Q3 2025.
Anti-corruption initiative, Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), began processes, but asset recoveries were below GH₵150 million as of December 2025, according to the OSP.
Skills mismatches, particularly in ICT, engineering and agriculture, unless reversed, will hamper productivity.
Conclusion: From Reset to Reform
The Reset Ghana has not yet arrived, but it has turned a critical corner. Inflation is down, confidence is rising, and leadership is modelling restraint and results. Whether this reset becomes a long-term reform culture depends on how we institutionalise discipline and delivery.
My and Ghana’s confidence is rooted in the tested leadership of President Mahama.
Through shared service and commitment, we are not only resetting Ghana—we are building a future grounded in trust, responsibility, service and greater efficiency, reparational justice.
The writer is a Presidential Special Envoy for Reparations
