“Men do not shape destiny. Destiny produces the man for the hour” – Fidel Castro
Like him or hate him: John Dramani Mahama has demonstrated that he is a man of destiny – very much like the hero in George Bernard Shaw’s 1897 play: “Man of Destiny” meaning his path to greatness is predetermined and driven by a force beyond his control. Contrast this with William Shakespeare (in Julius Caesar) “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves” opposed to Bernard Shaw’s fatalism. Either way, President Mahama soldiers on – and we would say his performance so far has been excellent!
As a historian himself, he is making history.
The stage had been set in the State of the Nation Address (SONA). The Parliament had been draped in variegated colours, but mostly all-white (NDC) and black (NPP). White – celebrating and toasting the great win (187 seats in a Parliament of 276). Black – mourning the elephantine loss (88 seats) and Dr. Arthur Kennedy need not “chase” the elephant into the bush; it is gone there by itself. Patriotic “uncre” Kufuor was there; so was “ever-young” Naana Agyemang Rawlings.
Then came the celebration of the 68th anniversary of Ghana’s freedom from the colonial yoke. Those of us born before independence saw the 6th March, 1957 – the glamour, the ecstasy, the illuminating lights save those who deprecated it, just because destiny had willed it that they would not be in the saddle.
President Mahama had taken a close look at the coffers, and it spelt gloom. He was not going to add to Ghana’s economic woes.
A modest celebration at the forecourt of Jubilee House. Not at the Independence Square, and a saving of over 90% of what it would have cost to have it elsewhere (an estimate of GH¢20 million). Short speech by the President, short play by the school-children, short military display… National Anthem. Done-Oh, the speech?
Re-iterating the “Nkokonketenkete” – a rehash of “Blaa” Kutu Acheampong’s Operation Feed Yourself (and Operation Feed Your Industries). And the fastidious city – dweller would spurn the “Okada” policy: it is for the rural dwellers footing 20 kilometers and more to access health and education that will appreciate the “Okada” ambulance. But we thank God for them – that is, those of us contemptuously described as landlubbers or “kookooasekuraaseni”.
And we remembered Tanzania’s President John Magufuli in 2015 cancelled the celebration of independence anniversary, and instead ordered a cleanup campaign, and Samia Sulunu Hassan as President repeated it in 2024 and used the funds ($445,000) to build 8 dormitories in primary schools around the country.
In a jiffy, President Mahama was off to the coastal town of Agavedzi and surrounding areas devastated by tidal waves.
The people of Ketu South are Ghanaians, and deserve to be saved from the tidal waves. The President had to calm nerves: “We already have a comprehensive report on the situation; the feasibility studies and the design for the Blekusu Phase 2 (sea defence) project are ready, and we just have to allocate the funding for the project”. TogbiFiti, Paramount Chief of Aflao was around to receive some relief items for his people. The MP for Adaklu, Governs Agbodza showed love and concern by donating some bags of rice, while Engineers and Planners offered the people GH¢100,000; all would say with Josephine Domevenu that the President’s visit “had renewed our hopes for a permanent solution to the problem”.
The 2025 Budget was dutifully presented by Cassiel Ato Forson, the Financial Minister on Tuesday, 11th March, 2025, in line with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
Expectations were not great because we had been over burdened with debts. And the all-knowing Bible-quoting ex-Finance Minister Ofori Atta would re-echo his Deputy, John Kumah and say: “We are a proud nation, the shining Star of Africa; we are not going to the IMF; the consequences are dire and we have the resources… Like when Joshua, Caleb and ten others went to espy the Promised Land… and the ten others said “we cannot do it…” And we went to the IMF, cap in hand to beg for a bail-out. The NPP had labelled NDC of members who would “create, loot and share” Ghana’s resources; NPP would refine “corruption”, dig the National Cathedral hole for $58m and “gargantuan” man, Amidu would describe Nana Addo as the “master-serpent of corruption”? Why would we not be in “financial crisis”? with the past government profligate spending (flying in rented aeroplanes, and Ministers staying in expensive hotels) with corruption all over the place with the President’s “seat” put in a separate V8 vehicle…
Ato Forson did not shy away from these realities (but was only being diplomatic and economical with his choice of words).
But, as predicted, some obnoxious taxes “nuisance taxes” the betting tax, COVID -19 tax, the E-levy, emission levy, VAT on motor insurance policy were all scrapped. Sure, funding SHS (GH¢ 3.5 billion): First-year University students(GH¢499 million); free sanitary pads (GH¢292 billion); Victims of Akosombo spillage (GH¢242 billion). Ketu South (GH¢200 million); Teacher trainees (GH¢480 million) Nurses trainees (GH¢51.3).
Who is interested in listening to the Minority that the betting tax(of GH¢50 million) was never implemented? Why was it in the books. The former Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam may have a difficulty if he tries to defend the indefensible! How do some of these people see Ghanaians? Nincompoops, “follow-follow”, zombies, who would be bamboozled by economic jargons.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has taught us: “When the fundamentals are weak, the exchange rate will expose you”. Franklin Cudjoe of Imani calls it “fresh” budget despite the absence of clear exposition of the 24-hour economy. Afenyo-Markin calls it “Azaa” budget, and we are yet to see where the President has “tricked” us.
Immediately after visiting Ketu South, President Mahama left for Mali on Saturday to begin a 3-day working visit to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The President was warmly received at the Bamako Airport by Gamil Assimi Goita, the Transition President. President Mahama would later visit Niger and Burkina Faso.
At Bamako, President Mahama’s message was terse and laconic: “Everybody knows the historic relations that have existed between Ghana and Mali since the period of our ex-Presidents, Keita and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and so I came on a friendly visit, and also to thank President Goita for allowing Prime Minister Maiga to visit Ghana when I was being inaugurated as President”.
It must have been difficult to talk about ECOWAS at Bamako, but President Mahama expressed the belief that despite the AES’ departure from ECOWAS, the friendship and brotherly love among the people should continue.
On January 29, 2024, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after providing the required one year’s notice. The trio have spurned the colonial “master” Paris and are tilting towards Russia, Turkey and Iran.
The jubilant crowd that attended the inauguration of the AES carried banners some of which read: “Long live AES, down with ECOWAS”, “Good-bye hand-tied ECOWAS”, “Long live AES” and Burkina Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo had noted: “To cut the cord of imperialism…. this will not be done by the tender hands of a midwife, but by an axe? Proverbs 18:21 says “The tongue has the power of life and death” so if you can’t say anything nice (to your neighbor) don’t say anything at all!
