JUDGING THE RESET.

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It is about a year since President Mahama launched the “Ghana Reset.” In his New Year Message, the President stated that, ” We have began to deliver on that covenant.” He reported that inflation has dropped from 23% to 5% and the currency has stabilized. He touted increased electricity supply and increased Healthcare coverage. And he spoke of the work done on corruption, etc. To be fair, there has been progress and our national morale has improved. But the praise has been out of proportion to the changes and verged on sychophancy sometimes, as NDC General Secretary Fiifi Kwetey pointed out a few days ago. Heck, Some are even talking of a third term! Perhaps, mediocre governance after mediocre govermence has dulled our expectations.

It was from this same leadership perch that Nkrumah built Tema Harbour and Akosombo Dam and delivered massive infrastructure development. It was from this perch that Kufuor built Bui Dam and initiated NHIS and gave us the “Kufuor dollar” that was stronger than the US dollar. It was from the same perch that Archeampong gave us Operation Feed Yourself and Dansoman and Suntreso estates and the Africa Cup of Nations for keeps in 1978. And it was from this same perch that President Mahama himself delivered UGMC and Terminal 3 and many other infrastructure projects in 4 years.

As I write, prices are still too high–Galamsey is still untamed–Too many thieves still mock ORAL by walking around free with their loot. And that last point is made even worse by that avalanch e of “Nolle Prosequi”s that have given the unfortunate impression that NDC members can expect some benign neglect from prosecution authorities. Thankfully, the President appears quite well grounded about the enormity of what remains undone.

He has been diligent, humble and accessible. In this new year, Mr. President, let ORAL advance by leaps and bounds and firmly advance the fight against Galamsey. No amount of economic returns from Galamsey can justify the depletion of our forests, the pollution of our rivers and the poisoning of our pregnant women and children. And outside Ghana ,help Africa find African solutions to our problems. We seem, now, to have no solutions at all. Mr. President, these are the changes that will give you, not a needless third term, but eternity behind Nkrumah as one of our greatest leaders.

As the President said, “Governments do not build nations alone”. Indeed! Parliament must step up fully into its role of executive oversight and take vigorous center-stage in constitutional reform. Too many audit shenanigans were allowed to go unpunished and the constitutional reforms can become a circus without firm leadership. The problems with our constitution are not quantitative–they are qualitative. That is why our constitution is 3 times the length of the US constitution and delivers far less. I have not met any Ghanaians who wished Rawlings or NADAA had ten years instead of 8!. And the central problem with our constitutional democracy is the uncontrolled monetization of our politics. We need to address it. No changes will matter as much as changes that will demonetize our politics.

May God bless Ghana. Arthur Kobina Kennedy ( 4th January, 2026)