Political analyst Dr. Keskine Owusu Poku has raised doubts about claims that President John Dramani Mahama’s government performed exceptionally well in its first year, arguing that key campaign promises remain largely unfulfilled.
Speaking on Oyerepa TV during a discussion evaluating the 2025 performance of the Mahama administration, Dr. Owusu Poku challenged reports awarding the National Democratic Congress (NDC) a 90 per cent performance rating, citing ongoing economic and security concerns.
“When you look at the NDC and consider the cost of insecurity in this economy, you cannot give them 90 per cent,” he said, pointing to early post-election controversies over state property and politically charged conflicts in northern Ghana, which he said had economic repercussions.
The analyst also expressed concern over the lack of progress on job creation, a cornerstone of the government’s campaign promises. He noted that flagship initiatives such as the 24-hour economy, aimed at generating employment, have yet to show tangible results within the first year.
“The President’s flagship project for job creation has not shown signs of implementation. We are still waiting,” Dr. Owusu Poku said, highlighting a significant mismatch between budgetary allocations and projected costs. “Only about GH¢110 million was allocated, yet the project requires around four billion dollars. That is not even 0.03 per cent of what is needed.”
He further criticised the absence of visible progress on other employment-related programmes, including the Edwumawura initiative. “Creating a portal does not mean people are being trained or employed. We have not seen applications or concrete activity,” he said.
Dr. Owusu Poku also noted that other major campaign pledges, such as the One Million Coders programme and the Women’s Bank, have seen little to no action, raising questions about the government’s commitment to its policy agenda.
“If most of the promised projects have not been implemented, then why are we giving the government 90 per cent for its performance in 2025?” he asked, urging a more critical assessment of the administration’s first-year achievements.
The analyst’s comments underscore growing public debate about accountability, transparency, and the pace of government delivery on key policy initiatives in Ghana.
