Ghana's new leader unveils key policies

ACCRA, Ghana — Ghana's President-elect John Dramani Mahama, fresh off an electoral victory marking his return to office, has outlined 26 key policies for his first 120 days in power.

In a document titled "Mahama's First 120 Days: A Social Contract with the People of Ghana", he has pledged to nominate all cabinet ministers within 14 days of being sworn in on Jan 7 and establish what he calls "the leanest government" within three months.

Tackling Ghana's economic challenges will be the central focus of Mahama's administration. His plans include hosting a national economic dialogue to assess the economy and develop a fiscal consolidation program for the 2025 budget.

Among his key proposals is a 24-hour economy, designed to drive growth and create sustainable, well-paying jobs by enabling businesses and public services to operate in three eight-hour shifts.

To address youth unemployment, Mahama plans to launch priority job creation programs in his first budget, including a national apprenticeship program. An accelerated export development council will be established to promote exports as part of a broader strategy for economic transformation.

Abolishing levies

To ease the financial burden on Ghanaians, Mahama's administration will scrap several levies, including the electronic levy and the 10 percent levy on betting winnings. Moreover, he will review taxes and levies on vehicles and equipment imported for industrial and agricultural use.

On education, Mahama has pledged to hold a national consultative conference within his first four months in office to build consensus on necessary reforms. His administration will implement a "no-academic fee" policy for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions and offer free tertiary education to people with disabilities. His government will also distribute free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools nationwide.

To strengthen governance, Mahama will establish a code of conduct for government officials and prohibit political appointees from purchasing state assets during his first 120 days.

Xinhua