Demonstrate political will to confront problems - Dr Bukari urges Mahama

The Head of Department of Political Science, University for Development Studies (UDS), Dr Gbensuglo Alidu Bukari, has challenged President John Dramani Mahama to demonstrate the political will to confront the problems he has identified as holding back the development of the country.

He said the President’s acknowledgment of economic strain, infrastructure deficits, and the corrosive effects of corruption and illegal mining was important, but it must confront the systems that sustain them.

Sharing his perspectives on the President’s State of the Nation Address and Independence Day Speech, Dr Bukari said the nation expected more than a constitutional formality but direction, honesty and a resolve to address the problems facing the country.

Cycle

He said 69 years after the declaration of political freedom anchored in economic transformation and social justice by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, “Ghana remains a stable democracy, but its economic vulnerabilities and governance challenges persist.”

He pointed out that reflection begins with truth-telling and also requires deeper introspection.

“Why does Ghana repeatedly cycle through debt crises? Why do corruption scandals recur despite countless reform pledges? Why has illegal mining survived multiple administrations?” he asked. 

Infrastructure

Dr Bukari acknowledged that the President had detailed plans under the ‘Big Push’ Infrastructure Programme to revitalise the country’s road network.

“Infrastructure investment is a powerful development tool. Roads connect markets, reduce transaction costs and stimulate regional economies.

“If implemented transparently and efficiently, the ‘Big Push’ could catalyse growth and employment,” he stated.

He noted that the citizenry was increasingly demanding measurable outcomes, clear timelines, cost transparency and fiscal sustainability.

“Large infrastructure programmes, if poorly managed, can deepen debt burdens.

Therefore, while the review was in scope, its credibility will depend on transparent execution and strict financial discipline,” he stated. 

Corruption

Dr Bukari said that although the President reaffirmed a commitment to fighting corruption and illegal mining, “these twin challenges have damaged public trust and degraded Ghana’s environment.”

He observed that the acknowledgement of their severity signals seriousness, but was quick to point out that “Ghanaians have heard similar commitments before.

“What the Ghanaian public now demands from the political class or the President is enforcement without fear or favour,” he stated.

Code of conduct

The senior political science lecturer said the most significant element of the address was the announcement that the government had laid the Public Officers’ Code of Conduct Bill before Parliament.

He said if passed and enforced, that legislation could mark a meaningful governance reset, stressing that “codifying standards and attaching legal consequences to breaches moves accountability from moral appeal to enforceable obligation.”

Dr Bukari stated that a reset required institutional reform, not just political messaging.

“Strengthening accountability frameworks and reaffirming due process suggest a deliberate attempt to recalibrate governance in Ghana,” he stressed.

He, however, pointed out that a reset must go beyond laws on paper and rhetoric.

“It must ensure independent enforcement, shield oversight bodies from political interference and demonstrate visible consequences for misconduct. Without implementation, even the best-designed legislation risks becoming symbolic,” he stated.

He said Ghanaians would judge the President by the results he would deliver through improvements in the livelihoods of the people without expanding unsustainable debt under the Big Push programme; whether anti-corruption efforts would lead to high-profile, impartial prosecutions and whether the Code of Conduct Bill would transform political culture.

“It requires sustained political will, institutional independence and citizen vigilance. As Ghana celebrates 69 years of independence, the real reset will not be declared; it must be demonstrated,” he stated.