President John Dramani Mahama delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament on February 27, painting a stark picture of Ghana.
The president expressed deep concern over the country’s struggling economy, acknowledging that Ghanaians face severe hardships due to rising inflation, excessive debt, and a weakened private sector.
He attributed the current crisis to poor economic management, unsustainable borrowing, and declining investor confidence, resulting in high unemployment and a reduced quality of life for many citizens.
Despite the grim outlook, the president assured parliament and the nation that his government was committed to taking bold and decisive measures to stabilize the economy.
He emphasized the need for strategic policies to revitalize local industries, enhance revenue generation, and implement effective debt management strategies to restore economic confidence.
However, his address lacked clarity on key national concerns, including security, job revocations, sanitation, and tax reforms, leaving many citizens and stakeholders seeking further details on the government’s plans for tackling these pressing issues.
Here are five issues that needed redress.
- Silence on job revocations
President John Mahama’s SONA did not address the widespread concerns surrounding job revocations that have taken place since January 7, 2025, leaving thousands of affected workers without clarity or reassurance.
At the beginning of the year, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, directed that public sector staff and government appointees employed after January 7, 2025, be revoked due to administrative changes and policy shifts under the new NDC administration.
This has sparked widespread anxiety among workers, particularly those in government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and key public institutions.
Many expected Mahama to provide a clear statement on the rationale behind these job terminations and the steps being taken to support those affected.
The absence of any mention of these job revocations in his speech has raised concerns about job security, transparency in government employment decisions, and the fate of workers dismissed during the transition period.
Critics argue that the government must provide a clear framework for employment stability, ensure fairness in job appointments and dismissals, and offer support to those who have lost their livelihoods.
- Comprehensive security update
President John Dramani Mahama’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on February 27, 2025, covered key economic and social issues but notably lacked a comprehensive update on Ghana’s security situation.
With growing concerns over rising crime rates, chieftaincy and ethnic conflict, regional instability, and emerging security threats, many expected the president to outline strategies to enhance national security, border protection, and law enforcement capacity.
However, his speech provided little to no details on these critical issues.
In recent months, Ghana has faced increased armed robberies, cybercrime threats, and concerns about extremist activities in the West African region.
Citizens and security experts anticipated strong policy statements on police and military readiness, intelligence gathering, and crime prevention measures—yet these concerns were largely absent from Mahama’s address.
The omission has sparked discussions on whether the government has a clear roadmap to strengthen national security and effectively tackle emerging threats.
Moving forward, Ghanaians will be looking for concrete policies and commitments to ensure safety, stability, and resilience in the country’s security landscape.
- Scrapping of ‘nuisance’ taxes
President John Mahama’s SONA failed to address the much-anticipated scrapping of so-called ‘nuisance’ taxes, leaving businesses and individuals disappointed.
In the lead-up to his address, there was widespread expectation that Mahama would announce the removal of multiple taxes that businesses and industry players have long described as burdensome and counterproductive to economic growth.
Unpopular taxes, including:
- E-levy
- COVID-19 levy
- Emissions levy
- 10% Betting tax
Both businesses and individuals were keen to see how quickly these taxes were going to be abolished.
- There was no update on media freedom
The President’s SONA failed to provide any update on the state of media freedom in Ghana, leaving many journalists, media advocates, and citizens concerned about the government’s commitment to press freedom and free speech.
In recent years, concerns over media independence, journalist safety, and press freedom restrictions have been growing in Ghana.
Reports of attacks on journalists and government interference have raised questions about the country’s democratic progress.
Given these concerns, many expected Mahama to outline measures to protect journalists, ensure an independent media landscape, and uphold the constitutional right to free expression.
However, his address was silent on these critical issues.
- Sanitation fight
President John Mahama’s SONA lacked a clear focus on Ghana’s sanitation challenges, a pressing issue affecting public health and urban development.
With poor waste management, pollution, and drainage system failures continuing to plague many communities, citizens expected the president to outline stronger policies and initiatives to improve sanitation, enhance waste disposal, and combat environmental degradation. However, his speech made little to no mention of strategies to tackle these problems.
Ghana’s major cities, including Accra and Kumasi, struggle with indiscriminate dumping, flooding due to clogged drains, and inadequate waste collection services.
Many had hoped for new government commitments on expanding sanitation infrastructure, enforcing stricter regulations, and promoting public awareness campaigns, yet these concerns were largely absent from Mahama’s address.