The NPP government set the bar so low; NDC government must raise it

Sulemana Braimah is right about one thing: Ghana deserves the highest standards of governance, transparency, accountability, and service delivery. We can all agree on that. President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC welcome scrutiny, as accountability strengthens democracy and improves government performance. Still, I believe criticism should be balanced, fair, and grounded in facts, not in selective stories.

First, calling our major achievements in such a short time mediocre is hard to understand. In just 12 months, we reached a GDP per capita of $850, grew the economy by about $117 billion, and helped nearly one million people out of poverty. Saying that President Mahama’s government only made small changes to what Nana Addo left behind is simply not true. The NPP did not just set a low standard; they left us with heavy debt, inflation as high as 54% at some point, and a weak cedi.

Calling our achievements mediocre is unfair to Ghanaians, who are finally seeing the economy recover and stabilise. You cannot compare those who are fixing problems to those who caused them. We are not just bringing things back to normal; we are raising standards to new heights, only matched by the days of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

Second, Mr Briamah’s view that the NDC and President Mahama should not be judged based on what we inherited misses an important point. Every government starts with its own challenges. The economic problems, high debt, inflation, energy issues, and mining in forests were all left by the NPP. These are facts, not political talk. So, when Ghanaians see improvements like lower inflation, a stronger cedi, and stable fuel prices, they are looking at real progress. The mid-year review shows we are on the right path.

Third, the NDC government has consistently maintained that our focus is to improve macroeconomic indicators by building a resilient economy, spending within our means, reining in frivolous spending through mechanisms such as commitment authorisation and value for money, restoring confidence in public institutions, creating jobs, attracting investment, and improving the quality of life of ordinary Ghanaians.

It is a fact that it takes a while for macroeconomic success to reflect in people's pockets and on our kitchen tables.

The NDC government has always said our goal is to improve the economy by being responsible with spending, restoring trust in public institutions, creating jobs, attracting investment, and making life better for everyone. It takes time for these changes to reach people’s daily lives.

The IMF and World Bank say we are ahead of schedule. The Reset Agenda is about real progress for all Ghanaians, not settling for less. Are we where we want to be? No! Are we where we were in December 2024?

Hell NO. Is there room for improvement? Of course, and we in the NDC are first to acknowledge that. We have never said stabilisation was our final destination; it is the painful price we have had to pay. Growth and jobs, and a low cost of living, are our ultimate destination, and we are well ahead of schedule to achieve this.

Fourth, it is surprising that those who call for accountability sometimes ignore how open this administration has been. Government officials regularly talk with the media, Parliament, civil society, and citizens about important issues. True transparency means answering questions and letting decisions be examined.

If you ask to see the president, you will get access. So, what is your point? On illegal mining, the NDC knows how serious the problem is. Galamsey did not start in 2025; it has been a national issue for decades.

Our efforts should be judged by the real steps we are taking, like supporting NAIMOS, changing mining laws, and prosecuting those responsible, no matter their party. Crime has no political side, and anyone breaking the law should be punished. If you have real evidence, take it to the authorities.

There was not the same concern when our water and forests were being damaged before.

Furthermore, while constructive criticism is good and welcome, it must not create the impression that we are simply making tweaks and marginal gains. The NPP dug us into a hole, and we are only just beginning to surface.

Ghanaians can see the efforts being made to stabilise the economy, restore investor confidence, improve fiscal discipline, build key infrastructure such as the Accra-Kumasi expressway for which 1.7 billion dollars has already been secured, bridge the Volta to allow easy access to food basket areas and reposition key sectors for growth. While these do not constitute the destination, they demonstrate success as established by the literature.

These are signs of real progress, as shown by the World Bank and IMF. In my view, your article goes beyond oversight and tries to distract from President Mahama’s achievements and the Reset Agenda.

It does acknowledge none of the progress being made while placing every challenge exclusively at the feet of a government that is actively working to resolve inherited and longstanding national problems. We need to separate institutional critics from institutional cynics.

In the end, the debate should not be about scoring political points. It should focus on whether Ghana is becoming more prosperous, accountable, and inclusive. The mid year budget review and data from GSS, BOG, IMF, and World Bank show progress. The NDC government is committed to this goal and welcomes all citizens, including Mr Braimah and the MFWA, to hold us accountable fairly and objectively.

Let us not let criticism stop us from seeing the start of a new era. The Reset Agenda is moving forward, as shown in the mid-year budget, and is taking Ghana to new heights. Stay alert and trust the NDC, President John Dramani Mahama, and his team of skilled economic managers.