President John Dramani Mahama delivered a sobering assessment of Ghana’s economy in his inaugural State of the Nation Address (SONA), labelling it an “unprecedented crisis” that has plunged the nation into hardship.
Speaking before Parliament on February 27, 2025, Mahama acknowledged the severe difficulties facing Ghanaians while pledging decisive action to reverse the downturn.
“The reality is stark—our economy is struggling, and our people are bearing the brunt of this extraordinary challenge,” Mahama said, laying bare the gravity of the situation.
Fresh off his return to the presidency after a nearly ten-year hiatus, Mahama emphasized a proactive stance, distancing himself from excuses or finger-pointing.
“I’m not here to dwell on the problems or pass the buck. My focus is on tackling these issues head-on and charting a course toward recovery,” he insisted.
The President, who previously led Ghana from 2012 to 2017, promised transformative steps to rejuvenate the economy and pledged, “We will face this crisis with courage and reset Ghana on a trajectory of growth and prosperity.”
Mahama also took a moment to revisit a hallmark of his earlier tenure—resolving the nation’s chronic power outages (dumsor.
“Let me set the record straight: I tackled *dumsor*. From January 2016 until I left office, we ended power rationing,” he said, reaffirming his track record on energy stability.
Reflecting on his unexpected return to leadership, Mahama spoke with a sense of purpose. “Almost a decade ago, I bid farewell to this chamber. Yet, by the will of God and the twists of fate, I stand before you once more,” he remarked, 50 days into his new term.
Mahama underscored his resolve to lead with integrity and transparency, assuring Ghanaians that his government would rise to the occasion.
“I am committed to facing our challenges honestly and working tirelessly to uplift our nation,” he stated.