Cocoa farmers, masses and investors left behind in Mahama’s February 2026 SONA

Over the past week, President John Dramani Mahama had a constitutional opportunity in his 2026 State of the Nation Address to inspire confidence, re-engineer the national conversation and articulate a bold roadmap for Ghana’s economic recovery and growth.

Instead, the address felt more defensive than visionary. It was the usual speech—heavy on partisan self-congratulation and light on transformative direction.

A State of the Nation Address must rise above political applause lines. It must speak to our national realities: the anxieties of hardworking cocoa farmers, the difficult calculations of investors, and the quiet frustrations of ordinary citizens over ever-rising electricity costs, among others. On that test, this address fell far short.

No mention of land reform and the need for a maintenance culture

Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of the address was the suggestion that reducing cocoa producer prices was necessary to avoid returning to an IMF programme. That argument may satisfy fiscal technocrats, but it does little to comfort the cocoa farmer whose livelihood already hangs in a delicate balance.

It is trite to state that cocoa farmers operate within a narrow margin of survival, contending with rising input costs, ageing farms, uncertain climate conditions, and volatile global prices.

Asking our long-suffering cocoa farmers to carry the nation’s burden without a clearly defined long-term productivity strategy reflects a troubling imbalance in national priorities. Fiscal discipline cannot become synonymous with shifting the burden onto those least able to bear it. What good, then, do farmers derive from state control if they must bear the brunt of difficult times?

If agriculture is truly the backbone of the economy, then policy must treat farmers as partners in growth, not as shock absorbers for macroeconomic adjustment.

Equally concerning was the promise of increased taxation at a time when Ghana desperately needs more private capital in infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology.

Taxation is not inherently problematic; irresponsibility is. Raising taxes without a parallel demonstration of expenditure discipline, regulatory certainty, and institutional reform risks dampening investor confidence. Capital flows where policy is predictable and governance is credible. Without those assurances, higher taxes may yield short-term revenue but long-term stagnation.

Investment thrives on clarity. Yet President Mahama, in this State of the Nation Address, missed a golden opportunity to outline a comprehensive strategy for broadening the tax base through growth rather than deepening it through pressure.

More disappointing still was the absence of a serious assault on the structural weaknesses that continue to undermine Ghana’s democratic and economic architecture.

Indiscipline and corruption within public institutions, cronyism in appointments, selective enforcement of laws, and the uneven application of justice erode public trust. Investors do not merely examine tax rates; they assess the strength of institutions and the predictability of the rule of law. Citizens do not merely listen to government public relations rhetoric and growth statistics; they evaluate fairness. A credible reform agenda must confront these issues directly. Silence, however polished, does not amount to reform.

On illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, the pledges sounded familiar and hollow. Ghana has heard successive administrations promise decisive crackdowns while rivers turn poisonous and farmlands disappear.

This crisis demands more than rhetoric. It requires institutional insulation from political interference, transparent enforcement mechanisms, technological surveillance, and the political courage to confront financiers and enablers at the highest levels. Without a concrete framework, repeated assurances risk reinforcing public scepticism rather than restoring confidence.

A State of the Nation Address should be distinct from a campaign rally. It is a constitutional moment—a platform to level with citizens about challenges and to articulate a bold, measurable path forward. Ghana needs leadership that is compassionate toward farmers, disciplined in fiscal management, attractive to investors, resolute against environmental destruction, and uncompromising in strengthening institutions.

It is unfortunate that President Mahama’s 2026 address did not rise to that standard. In moments of economic and environmental fragility, presentational leadership is not enough.

Ghanaians deserve more than mere words. We need to see a credible roadmap anchored in reform, fairness, and forward thinking.

Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong

1st March 2026

6 Anang Loop, East Legon, Accra