Civil society organization Arise Ghana has released an extensive national reflection on the first anniversary of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, characterizing the past twelve months as a pivotal transition from economic instability to a period of restored fiscal sanity.
In a detailed address to the press and the public, Marion Gifty Nyaaba, on behalf of the group framed this appraisal as an essential act of democratic accountability, designed to move beyond partisan rhetoric and focus on the tangible fulfillment of what she described as the “Social Contract” between the government and the people.
She began by grounding the current progress in the harsh realities of the inheritance of January 2025. At that time, Ghana’s economic landscape resembled a storm-tossed sea, with inflation surging beyond 23 percent and the Cedi trading perilously close to 16 units against the U.S. Dollar.
This era, she said was defined by food prices that escalated weekly, fuel costs that made transportation a gamble, and a climate of social unrest where businesses were forced into survival mode. She noted that these were not abstract economic theories but the daily struggles of mothers skipping meals and graduates roaming the streets in search of elusive jobs.
Marion Nyaaba highlighted a remarkable turnaround in the nation’s macroeconomic health, led by the plummeting of inflation to 6.3 percent and a rebound in economic growth to over 6 percent. She also revealed that the Ghanaian Cedi has emerged as a symbol of this recovery, stabilizing between 10.4 and 10.6 to the dollar, marking the currency’s first annual appreciation in over three decades, a feat the group attributes to restored fiscal discipline, the rebuilding of foreign reserves to over 11 billion dollars, and enhanced export receipts.
According to Arise Ghana, structural reforms have played a central role in this resurgence. Marion affirmed that the establishment of GoldBod has centralized gold aggregation and enforced traceability, successfully injecting approximately 4 billion dollars into national reserves. Simultaneously, the reactivation of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) in December 2025 has begun to reverse years of dependence on expensive refined petroleum imports.
On the domestic front, she stated that the administration has provided much-needed “breathing space” for citizens and Small and Medium Enterprises by abolishing the E-Levy, the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, and various taxes on betting and emissions.
However, the reflection was not without stern warnings and demands for deeper accountability. Arise Ghana emphasized that governance is measured by tangible results rather than proclamations. The group, led by Marion Gifty Nyaaba gave its full backing to Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), which seeks to reclaim misappropriated state assets and lands.
In a direct call for judicial action, the group demanded that the Attorney-General and investigative agencies ensure that high-profile individuals implicated in past financial controversies, specifically former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, face the full rigors of the law, joining the growing call for his immediate arrest and extradition to restore public trust in the state’s institutions.
As the nation moves forward, the group urged the administration to remain steadfast in its commitment to transparency and inclusive growth. While the “ship has been steadied” and the immediate threat of economic free-fall has been averted, Arise Ghana reminded the government that stability is merely the foundation for prosperity, not the final destination.
The organization concluded by calling on all Ghanaians to remain vigilant “watchdogs of accountability,” ensuring that the sacrifices made by ordinary citizens over the past year translate into a lasting legacy of progress and integrity.
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
