After One Year In Government: Is Mahama Still The Hope Of Ghanaians?

Elections 2024 in Ghana came with lofty promises from the then opposition NDC party, demonizing the Nana/Bawumia led administration and raising the hope of Ghanaians high - promising paradise on earth. Ghanaians believed them because they claimed their then presidential candidate was the hope of Ghanaians. After a year in office, the center cannot hold, reality is now donning on Ghanaians that the hope they believed and voted massively for is now a mirage.

The cornerstone of the NDC campaign was on the so-called 24 hour economy, which surprisingly Ghanaians fell for. Surprisingly because the NDC even struggled to explain their own campaign message (24 hour economy) to Ghanaians. This was a message promised to create jobs for the youth and many other Ghanaians. It even led to invention of the famous formula 1:3:3 - One job, three workers, three shifts. The very people who invented this formula do not want to hear about it anymore. Is Mahama still the hope? I doubt!

Automatic posting of nurses and teachers was another scam that gave false hope to the unemployed and potential nurses and teachers. What has become of it is nothing but bizarre, leaving the youth in those fields hopeless, viewing the hope they believed in as a mirage. The reality on the ground speaks volumes of the government of Mahama, 'the hope of Ghanaians' - unemployed nurses and teachers are wondering in disbelief, facing the reality that the so-called automatic posting was just a scam.

The NDC in opposition gave farmers across the country hope of better living conditions, increased producer price of cocoa and what do we see now? Cocoa farmers witnessed unprecedented haircuts in the cocoa sector, dashing farmers hopes and creating hardship for farmers and their families. They gave cocoa farmers hope that they could pay them up to Ghs6000 per bag of cocoa but it has turned to a big scam. Cocoa farmers have witnessed devastating reduction in price of cocoa per bag from Ghs3600 to Ghs2587. Cocoa farmers are weeping in silence and regretting of voting for 'the hope of Ghanaians'. This is a farming season and farmers are not 'seeing top' at all. Farmers are unable to sell their produce, hence, have no hope in farming this year. Mahama is no more the hope because many farmers across the country are struggling to farm.

Harassment upon harassment in a democratic government is obviously not what Ghanaians voted for. Many people who believed that President Mahama was a friend of free speech are now revising their notes. The government of President Mahama cannot withstand the same dose of unprintable language meted out to the previous government and it's officials. The table has turned and a simple post of 'Dumsor is back' must warrant arrest. Mr. Mahama, those who saw you as a hope and voted you because they believed, in your government, free speech will be guaranteed are beginning to be disappointed in you. We are witnessing media censorship in Ghana on particular issues and group of people to the extent that The Overlord of Mamprugu, The Nayiri, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga has to hold a press conference displaying his displeasure against the media censorship and harassment of his subjects.

Another area the NDC played with the minds of Ghanaians for power was the fight against galamsey. The NDC, led by Mr. Mahama made the people of Ghana to believe that galamsey activities will vanish into thin air immediately they took over power and after one year in power, the promise has become scarecrow. It is now becoming taboo to talk about galamsey in Ghana. Recently, the whole Chairman of the Church of Pentecost was threatened by Mr. Mahama's appointee, simply because of his campaign against galamsey. Mr. Mahama interestingly admitted that his own party people are engaged in galamsey activities. So, dear galamsey crusaders, is Mahama still the hope?

You remember ORAL? Yes, ORAL - operation recover all loot. The very people who were shouting on top of their voices about ORAL are now revising their notes with little or no hope at all in this government. The NDC in opposition campaigned vigorously on this mantra of ORAL, making people to believe in them but it has turned 'beans'. Again, remember that an ORAL committee was formed even before Mr. Mahama took over. It promised to recover about $21 billion. The intention and execution of this ORAL mantra failed the very day this government started withdrawing previous NDC government's (Mahama 1) appointees corruption cases from court, claiming that some have paid 60% of the corrupt money. The rest is now history. Mahama for that matter NDC is indeed not the hope as promised.

The suffering is excruciating yet they tell their supporters and Ghanaians not to complain. There is a saying that if your mother is dead and you pretend that she is asleep, the stench would definitely expose you. The increasing utility bills are paid by all with no exception - utility bills do not know party colours. We pay Ghs1 'Dumsor' levy per litre of fuel yet our light goes off and on on daily basis. The reality is that the hope they promised is not hoping again, hence, Mahama is no more the hope. Or you disagree?

Thank you