The Mahama Victory – A Warning, A Rare Mandate, A Greater Responsibility

Dear Mr. Mahama,

Congratulations are in order.

I did not vote for you. In fact, I did not vote at all because I did not think there was any candidate on the ballot worthy of my vote.

I wanted a leader who promised and could deliver real transformation so that our democracy would no longer feel like a glorified performance of electoral rituals. I stayed home because I was tired—tired of leaders who recycle the same promises, tired of administrations that only shuffle faces without shifting the state of our nation, and tired of watching the hopes of Ghanaians dim with every election cycle.

But Ghanaians voted. They gave you a historic endorsement, with media projections suggesting that you’ve won close to 57% of the votes and your party, the NDC, has secured over two-thirds of seats in Parliament. I have seen mapped results showing that your NDC has won 13 out of the 16 regions in Ghana, hence posts from your camp singing your praise with captions like, “Ghana is Green.”

Congrats again, Mr. President.

I am one of the few young people who are not partisan but very political. But I am also one of those few Ghanaians who admired your first administration and felt you were dealt a blow that you didn’t deserve. As a journalist who has traveled the length and breadth of this country, I have seen some of the colossal structures, social and physical alike, that you’ve put up. Yet I also remember the corruption and mismanagement that characterized your first administration. I still remember the “Woyome Scandal” and the many others that your administration has become synonymous with. And so, I am one of those who believe that you didn’t need to come back into government because though you may not be corrupt, you didn’t do such a good job keeping your assigns and other appointed officers in check. They looted under you and Ghanaians suffered the consequences.

Essentially, your legacy is a mix of good and evil. Yet, Ghanaians have once again given you the opportunity to be in charge of our affairs.

Mr. President, please know this and know peace; you did not just win an election; you won a rare opportunity—a mandate to fix what is broken and rebuild Ghana on a foundation of hope and progress.

And let me be clear: Ghanaians didn’t vote for you because they suddenly forgot the failures of your first presidency. They voted because the alternative was worse, because the NPP left this country in a state of near-collapse, without any iota remorse, and because you promised something audacious: to “reset” the nation.

This victory is not a blank cheque. It is a warning. Ghanaians are giving you one more chance, not out of trust but out of desperation. Your promises of change must translate into tangible action.

A Mandate to Deliver, Not Excuses

Mr. Mahama, you have no excuses this time. You have an unprecedented majority in Parliament. The voters did not just reject Dr. Bawumia and the NPP; they rejected the excuses, inertia, and mediocrity that have characterized governance in this country for decades. They are tired of politicians blaming their predecessors while doing nothing substantive to change the status quo. They are tired of hearing that Ghana’s problems are insurmountable.

Take a moment to consider this: No government since Kwame Nkrumah has enjoyed this kind of mandate. You have the tools to legislate sweeping reforms, enact bold policies, and truly transform the economy. The question is, will you? Or will you fall into the same trap of complacency, corruption, and politics as usual that has plagued both your party and your opponents?

Your predecessor, President Akufo-Addo, came into office on a wave of euphoria, promising to make Ghana the “beacon of Africa.” Today, he leaves behind a country that can barely pay its debts, where the cost of basic goods is unbearable, and where the youth have lost faith in their leaders. That is the legacy you inherit, but it is also the legacy you must not repeat.

You Promised a Reset – Ghanaians Demand It

During your campaign, you promised to “reset” Ghana. That word is heavy with responsibility. A reset means going beyond surface fixes. It means addressing the systemic issues that have left us stuck in this vicious cycle of political musical chairs.

The cost of doing business in Ghana is still high. Please change that narrative. Next Kins are still unable to access their inheritance because of bureaucratic bottle-necks, reset that. Young people cannot start and operate businesses in Ghana because the papers to fill are just too many. These are contributing to dynamic poverty in the country and making most of them consider the possibility of “jakpa.” If you reset the country as promised, we would not have to “Jakpa.”

So, Mr. President, transform the economy as you’ve promised. Ghana’s economy is in tatters, and Ghanaians are barely surviving. Inflation has robbed families of their purchasing power, unemployment has left many young people without hope, and businesses are suffocating under the weight of a broken system. You must prioritize fiscal discipline, transparency in public spending, and policies that create real jobs—not just gimmicks for political gain.

Do you remember your last term? Ghanaians do. It was marked by the 3Ds: dumsor, debt, and despair. This time, there can be no repeats. If you claim the NPP has ruined the economy, then prove you can fix it. No excuses, no delays, no blaming your predecessors.

Tackle corruption like never before. Corruption is the cancer that has eaten away at every government since independence. Your administration was no exception. The people you lead today remember the scandals that defined your first term. The bus branding saga, the questionable contracts, the perception that public officials were untouchable. This time, you must make a stand. Root out corruption in your government, prosecute wrongdoers—even if they are your friends or allies—and restore faith in public office. If you can’t do this, your promises mean nothing.

Rebuild social systems. Healthcare is in shambles, and our education system is struggling to produce graduates who can compete globally. The free SHS is good. You started. I know this because I was a senior prefect in the great Pope John SHS when the “Progressive Free SHS” started in 2014 for day students. You’ve promised to review and realign it. Do it oo. Do it Mr. President.

Ghanaians deserve hospitals that function, schools that prepare their children for the future, and social safety nets that protect the vulnerable.

Be the President of all Ghanaians. Like your mentor, the late venerable Prof. Evans Attah Mills said in 2009, be a “father for all,” not for the NDC, for all Ghanaians. The deep political polarization in this country is unsustainable. Your victory should not be a victory for just the NDC—it must be a victory for Ghana. The regions that didn’t vote for you still deserve your attention. This country cannot thrive when it is divided along party, ethnic, or regional lines.

The Power and Burden of History

Mr. Mahama, history has handed you a second chance that few leaders ever get. Kwame Nkrumah had this level of power, and he used it to lay the foundation for Ghana’s development. Jerry John Rawlings had it during the early days of the Fourth Republic, and he used it to stabilize our democracy. Now, you have that power. The question is: What will you do with it?

Will you be remembered as the leader who finally broke the cycle of mediocrity, or as the man who squandered Ghana’s last, best hope for real change?

This is not just your legacy at stake. It is Ghana’s future. Our children will either inherit a country that is finally on the path to prosperity or one that remains trapped in its dysfunction.

Ghanaians will not forgive you if you fail. They will not tolerate excuses or half-measures. They voted for you to lead, not to govern by committee or to pander to political interests. They voted for change, and they will hold you accountable every step of the way.

You have four years to prove that this victory was not a mistake. Use them wisely.

This is your moment, Mr. Mahama. Don’t waste it.

About the Writer: Theodore Abiwu [Efo] Korku Mawutor is the Vice President of the Institute of Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI). He is a Multimedia Journalist and a fellow of the Journalists in Social Protection, (JISOP) Ghana.