Why Ghana must back Mahama’s big push agenda as global powers set their own rules to satisfy their self-interest

Immanuel Kant argued that truth is non-negotiable. To lie is to rob people of autonomy and to deny them the dignity of making informed choices. That principle applies not only to individuals but also to nations. When powerful states manipulate rules, they strip weaker nations of their sovereignty and reduce them to pawns.

At the recent World Economic Summit in Davos, Canadian President Mark Carney spoke plainly. He admitted that the so-called rules-based international order is a fiction. Great powers exempt themselves whenever convenient. International law applies unevenly, depending on who is accused and who is the victim. America’s hegemony has provided public goods, open sea lanes, financial stability, and collective security, but always on its own terms. Carney’s candour revealed the gap between rhetoric and reality.

For Ghana, the lesson is clear. We cannot rely on others to secure our future. We must build strength from within. President Mahama’s Big Push Agenda is the credible path forward. It is about opening up the economy, investing in infrastructure, and empowering local businesses. It is about Ghana becoming its own best customer.

Infrastructure as sovereignty

Lord Lugard once said Africa’s development could be summed up in one word: transportation. Mahama’s Big Push embraces that truth. The proposed expressway from Accra to Kumasi will transform the transport network, reduce travel time, and move goods efficiently from the coast to the middle belt and beyond.

Efficient public transport systems will decongest cities, reduce traffic, and provide affordable mobility. Productivity will rise, families will save time and money, and businesses will thrive. Infrastructure is not just concrete and steel. It is the backbone of sovereignty and the control of national destiny.

Corruption as the real enemy

Economic progress depends on discipline. From January 2025, when President John Mahama was sworn into office, Ghana’s economy has shown resilience. The cedi has gained against major currencies, interest rates have been lowered, and inflation has dropped to single digits. These gains are the result of fiscal discipline and reduced corruption.

Fuel prices have fallen, creating savings at the pump, yet transport unions and market traders resist passing those savings to consumers. The ministers in charge of these ministries must respond in equal measure, just as President Mahama has given a firm commitment to fight corruption and waste. He has warned ministers of consequences if found culpable. This is leadership grounded in accountability.

Comparative lessons are instructive. Switzerland thrives without oceans. Singapore prospers without rice fields. Japan advances without rich minerals. The Netherlands flourishes without mountains. Meanwhile, the Philippines, blessed with all these resources, remains poor due to corruption. Ghana must avoid that trap. Discipline and integrity are the foundation of prosperity.

Global shifts and Ghana’s response

Carney warned that the United States is now a threat to middle powers. Canada responded by striking new trade deals with China. Tariffs were cut on Chinese electric vehicles. In return, China lowered tariffs on Canadian canola. The direct beneficiary of this reset is China, positioning itself as the new hegemon.

For Ghana, this is a warning. Reliance on China for imports, loans, and resource-backed projects is dangerous. To borrow Carney’s words, if we are not at the table, we risk becoming the menu. The Big Push Agenda is about reducing dependence, building roads, housing, and industries with Ghanaian materials, Ghanaian technology, and Ghanaian workers.

Housing as dignity

The Big Push is not limited to roads. Affordable housing is central. Millions of young families deserve the dignity of owning homes. Ghana can build at scale using local steel, lumber, and aluminium. This creates jobs while solving a pressing social need.

Housing is more than shelter; it is stability, security, and the foundation of family life. Mahama’s plan recognizes that dignity begins at home.

Security as autonomy

Sovereignty requires defence. The Big Push includes new military hardware, built with local materials and technology, to protect Ghana’s autonomy. We cannot control what other nations do. But we can ensure we are not vulnerable. Security is not about aggression. It is about confidence. It is about knowing that Ghana can defend its people and its resources.

The economic logic

The Mundell-Fleming Trilemma suggests that interest rates, exchange rates, and inflation cannot all move downward at once. Yet Ghana has achieved low interest rates, a stronger cedi, and single-digit inflation. This is evidence of fiscal discipline. It is proof that governance matters.

Good governance boosts purchasing power. It enhances well-being. It creates confidence in the future. The Big Push builds on this foundation. It channels discipline into infrastructure, housing, and industry.

Why the Big Push is urgent

Global powers are using economic integration as weapons, tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, and supply chains as vulnerabilities. Ghana cannot wait for benevolence from abroad.

The Big Push is urgent because Ghana’s challenges are immediate. Roads must be built, housing must be provided, jobs must be created, corruption must be fought, and sovereignty must be defended. This is not about promises. It is about priorities. It is about action.

The Call to Ghanaians

Policy-minded readers must see the stakes clearly. Broad voters must understand the urgency. Both NDC and NPP members must rally behind the agenda with a non-partisan approach. President Mahama’s Big Push Agenda is not just a plan. It is a mission. It is the path to sovereignty, prosperity, and dignity. Ghanaians must embrace it, not because rhetoric demands it, but because reality requires it.

Conclusion

The global order is shifting, and rhetoric no longer matches reality as great powers act in self-interest. China is rising, but its intentions remain uncertain. We cannot control what others do. But we can control what we build. We can be our own best customers. We can invest in our own future. President Mahama’s Big Push Agenda is the credible path forward. It is urgent, disciplined, and rooted in Ghanaian strength.

The choice is ours. We can continue to rely on rhetoric from abroad, or we can embrace priorities at home. We can remain vulnerable, or we can build strength. Let us embrace the Big Push agenda in building Ghana’s future.

About the Authors:

Ebenezer holds advanced degrees in Information Technology Law from the University of Ghana and Human Rights Law from the University of Nottingham, with a background in business development and higher education strategy. He is an advocate for fair governance, educational innovation, and policies that prioritize everyday Ghanaians.

Suhuyini holds a Master of Science in Public Affairs from KNUST and an LLB from Central University. He is currently advancing his expertise through an LLM in International Law, Security, and Diplomacy. A dedicated advocate for public-interest policies and effective governance, he serves as the Northern Regional Deputy Treasurer and Communicator for the ruling NDC government under the leadership of H.E. John Mahama.