SPEECH: I speak of Governance- Mahama.

Thank you, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, for accepting to join me for this Governance Forum, especially as we had to schedule it for the evening because of my campaign activities.

I returned from the Northern Region last night and, earlier this morning chaired a meeting of the Board of the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa. This afternoon, I also held a very good meeting with the leadership of the Church of Pentecost before getting ready to join you this evening.

My earlier conversations today and some developments in our country over the last few days have combined to make this evening the most appropriate time to hold this forum.

This evening, I want to speak about Governance! I am moved to speak about governance because the way we administer governance in our dear country has brought Ghana to a crossroads. Injustice is eating our society away as our economy inflicts untold hardships on millions of suffering Ghanaians.

In the last few years, the World Bank reports that 870,000 of our people have slipped below the poverty line. Our own Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) says 1.7 million Ghanaians are multi-dimensionally poor under the Akufo Addo/Bawumia administration.

My dear brothers and sisters, at this crossroads, we have no option but to unite—as one people who put our nation first—to give us a chance to succeed. For Ghana to be successful again, there is an urgent need to reset our governance and democratic systems. This can only happen if this current NPP government is rejected at the polls on 7th December.

These last eight years have been very challenging for our democratic institutions. All the gains we have made in strengthening them since 1992 have been eroded.

Ghanaians must end this ‘horror movie’ they have been subjected to over the last eight years. The pledge to protect the public purse was a hollow promise. Indeed, as some people say humorously, they have not only emptied the public purse; they have stolen the purse itself.

The insatiable greed of this administration’s appointees has not even spared the environment, including our water bodies and forest reserves. Their catastrophic failure has not only led to an upsurge in corruption but also to disrespect for citizens’ freedoms and rights, the high-handed throwing of citizens into remand custody, and the deprivation of them of food and medical care.

This government lacks integrity, transparency, and accountability. It will not accept responsibility for the hardships it has foisted on our society. It still believes and insists it is not responsible for the damage to our economy. It maintains we cannot hold it accountable for skyrocketing the national debt from GH¢120 billion in 2016 to GH¢767 billion in 2024, with very little to show.

They will not accept that compelling the Central Bank to print more than GH¢70 billion increased inflation to about 54%, leading to the Bank of Ghana posting a loss of over GH¢60 billion.

Ladies and gentlemen, I firmly believe that the main reason for democratic governance is to improve the living conditions of ALL citizens—including people living with disabilities, our retirees and young people who are out of school and need jobs —in a tangible, sustainable and equitable way.

Democracy must be meaningful to citizens. Democracy must deliver justice to the people. In a democracy, citizens must be free to criticise the government without hearing a weird knock on their doors at night from partisan national security operatives.

In a true democracy, citizens, including journalists, security personnel, workers of the Electoral Commission, teachers, nurses, and doctors, must be able to go about their daily duties without looking over their shoulders to see who is misinterpreting their actions and democratic choices. Their phones must be free from bugging and monitoring.

Bad governance threatens inclusive and sustainable development and undermines democracy. In other words, people must be free to speak their minds. As politicians, recent developments should make it clear that the people of Ghana, especially the youth, have begun to be more assertive about their deserved aspirations. They are no longer hoodwinked by superficial compliance, unprincipled positions, mere rhetoric, abuse of vested power, and divisive and irrational tribal or religious politics.

The youth of Ghana are seeking fundamental, drastic and wholesome reforms to the crippling canker of corruption and elitist governance. As a political leader, I am ready to provide real leadership and a genuine commitment to meeting the needs and aspirations of the people.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is why I speak of governance this evening.

This is why I am offering myself as a servant leader. One who is prepared to work with all of you to halt the declining confidence in our democratic governance and our institutions.

All true patriots will feel sad reviewing the report of the CDD Afrobarometer Round 10 survey. I urge every one of you to study it. The report chronicles the increasing loss of faith in our democratic institutions. We must urgently halt their decay, reset them, and begin to chart a dignifying path forward. And I believe we can.

No barriers erected by the deeds and misdeeds of this government will be too steep to surmount from January 7, 2025, when, by the grace of the almighty God, I am sworn into office as President. I am determined to work with you to save our democracy. And it will not matter whose ox is gored.

Combating Corruption and Ensuring Transparent Governance.
I am determined to cure the canker of corruption in our country. Corruption is intertwined with bad governance and represents a manifestation of carefully crafted schemes by government appointees, their families, and friends to benefit their narrow, selfish needs.

Think about the PDS and SML scandals, Agyapa, and others. Think about Databank, which belongs to the then Minister for Finance, the president’s cousin, who is profiting from our national debt.
There is also the Number 12 investigative report by Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which led to the murder of Ahmed Hussein Suale after implicating the presidency. Think about the Pwalugu Dam scandal.

Let’s go further and consider the COVID-19 expenditure and SPUTNIK-V scandals, in which people who were voted to protect our interests decided to profit from the pandemic. The list is endless.

While you think about these acts of corruption—I have not even mentioned the $58 million National Cathedral scandal—let us ask ourselves, what has happened to the perpetrators? Impunity prevails when corruption goes unchecked and unpunished, and the country is consigned to hardships. This is how corruption has led to the hardships Ghanaians are suffering today.

This is another reason why we must show the corrupt NPP government the exit on 7 December to promote scrutiny and accountability. A vote for Bawumia will be a disastrous third term for Akufo-Addo and his corrupt friends and family administration.

This is not a quest for witch-hunting but a genuine desire by Ghanaians to see public officers held to account for the public trust in them. Fighting corruption requires courage and principle.

I will ensure meritorious appointments and allow the systems for transparency and accountability to work in an unfettered space. And I know my level. It is definitely not to be a clearing agent.

My dear friends and fellow Ghanaians, the John Mahama and Naana Jane NDC government will adhere to the substantive constitutional expectation of Separation of Powers to allow for checks and balances. We will adequately resource independent constitutional bodies, revitalise media freedoms, and hold regular stakeholder engagements and presidential media encounters in the Flagstaff House.

My administration will establish a Governance Advisory Council, and I aim to improve political governance, help curb corruption, and ensure respect for human rights in the country. Membership of the Council will include representatives of civil society organisations, religious leaders, traditional leaders, academia, labour, and ordinary Ghanaians.

Every year, the Governance Advisory Council would release a report on the state of human rights, corruption, and governance to serve as a guide for the government to determine whether we are on the right track regarding issues of governance, corruption, human rights, media, and other freedoms, including torture and crime.

You have heard about Operation Recover-All-Loot. That will be one of my tools to combat corruption and make it a high-risk endeavour. Operation Recover-All-Loot (ORAL) will investigate, prosecute, and recover the proceeds of corruption. We will use both local and foreign investigative expertise to achieve this objective.

Legislation to prohibit political appointees, politically exposed persons, and all serving public officials from purchasing state assets will be closely linked to the ORAL. We shall also establish a state assets registry (SAR) to address the detrimental phenomenon of state capture.

As I have assured the chiefs of Ga State, I will open an enquiry into the sale of stolen government lands and the implementation of the Accra Redevelopment Policy. The investigation into the looting of government lands will not be conducted alone in Accra. We are aware of the developments in Kumasi, Ho, and Tamale and will extend the ORAL into all sixteen regions. I commit to rigorously implementing the recommendations.

To ensure value for money and transparency in contract awards, an Independent Value for Money office will scrutinise government procurements above $5 million or as Parliament may determine. The Public Procurement Act of 2003 (Act 663 as amended) will be further amended to make single-sourced and restricted tendering an exception rather than the norm.

Working with the Judiciary, special courts will be established to prosecute persons in whom the Auditor-General and Parliament have made adverse findings. We will support the Auditor-General in enforcing the surcharge powers to retrieve embezzled funds with interest.

Our commitment to reviewing and enforcing the Assets Declaration regime to promote transparency and combat corruption will be pursued. I will require all members of my administration to declare their assets within 30 days of assuming office.

Restoring Public Confidence and Trust in Government.
Ladies and gentlemen, the recent report from the Afrobarometer survey in Ghana reveals depressing reports about our institutions. The Ghanaian public has lost trust in many of our institutions. Collectively, we must do more to rebuild that trust.

My administration will review the codes of conduct for public officeholders to promote ethical leadership, professionalism, and efficiency. We must make the public sector work for the people by being responsive to their needs and demonstrating humility and sacrifice.

We will also pass and implement the revised Internal Audit Agencies Bill to address malfeasance in public agencies.

For almost eight years, the government has deliberately and systematically worked to weaken and undermine the independence of the Judiciary, the electoral commission, and the Audit Service for personal and partisan gain. Our human rights record, including press freedom, has suffered just as the fight against corruption has. Journalists have been hounded and cowered into silence and self-censorship.

But I can assure you that there is hope. The NDC, under my leadership, is ready and willing to work with Ghanaians, key stakeholders in civil society, traditional leaders, and development partners to restore good governance in our beloved country.

As I have said many times, I will drastically reduce the size of government by appointing no more than sixty (60) ministers of state. We will achieve this by realigning and merging ministries, departments, and agencies and appointing highly efficient, effective, and smart appointees to eliminate duplication and waste.

We will also abolish the payment of ex-gratia. The disparities between Article 71 officeholders and the Public Service will be fixed by establishing the long-overdue Independent Emoluments Commission—merging the functions of the Presidential Commission on Emoluments and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission. In addition, we will complete the Constitution Review process and strengthen the regulatory framework for political party financing.

I believe Independent Constitutional Bodies must be strengthened rather than weakened, and I am referring to the National Media Commission, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Electoral Commission, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, and the Audit Service.

Justice delivery.
On justice delivery: Resetting Ghana to work in a 24-hour economy that will create jobs also means justice must not only be served but must be palpably seen to have been delivered. The next NDC government will, therefore, support the judiciary in enhancing access to justice and restoring confidence in the judiciary.

My administration will depoliticise the administration of justice, respect the independence of the Judiciary, and see to the expeditious determination of cases through automation—virtual hearings, use of technology—and motivation of the judicial service to consider a shift system under the 24-hour economy.

Establishing courts within the precincts of other prisons will ensure that prisoners are treated fairly, just as it has been done within the precincts of the Nsawam Medium Security Prison. Ensuring the feeding and medical care of prisoners will be paramount.

We will conduct a comprehensive legal education review to expand access to legal education in Ghana. We need more lawyers to serve our national development goals in a democracy.

Among other things, we shall expand the child-friendly court programme to all regional capitals, including child-sensitive training for judges, court staff, and DOVVSU staff, and modernise Juvenile Correction Centres to foster effective rehabilitation and reintegration of young offenders into society.

Public Safety and Security.
I am determined to provide adequate safety and security for all Ghanaians under the 24-Hour Economy initiative. To the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Prison Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, the Intelligence Agencies, the Narcotic Control Commission, Customs, National Disaster Management Organisation, National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, and others, keep in mind that I, John Dramani Mahama, appreciate the immense sacrifices and service you render to our dear Republic, sometimes, even at the peril of your own lives.

We have dedicated professionals, patriotic serving officers, and men and women in our security agencies who are appalled by the needless politicisation this government has injected into the security services.

To all professional and decent-minded security men and women who yearn for the restoration of the glory days of being a member of the security services, you can be assured that ours will be a government that ensures promotions are based on merit and will correct injustices in promotions across all the security services.

Be assured that the glory days of our security services under a government that will not infuse the services with unqualified personnel is coming. On Monday, 2nd December, the Special Voting Day, vote for John Mahama as President and vote for the NDC parliamentary Candidates.

I am confident the Special Voters will herald the tone for my resounding victory in this year’s elections. Like millions of Ghanaians, this category of voters feels the hardships the economy imposes. Like millions of Ghanaians, you all feel the hardships the economy imposes.

We all go to the same market. Media personnel feel the hostile atmosphere within which they ply their noble trade. The staff of the Electoral Commission also feel and are appalled by the systematic decay their once cherished Commission has suffered under this government.

Ladies and gentlemen, to ensure the security and safety of all citizens and businesses, the next NDC government will further review the compensation package for personnel who lose their lives or get injured in the line of duty.

We will establish new military installations, focusing on border areas and the new regions, to prevent terrorist attacks and ensure rapid response; implement cyber security measures to protect government systems, critical infrastructure, people and businesses; and harmonise and address disparities in salaries, remunerations, and other conditions of service.

There are huge shortfalls in both residential and office accommodation within the services. These we will aggressively tackle from my first day in office; enhance medical packages for serving and retired personnel and their families; ensure continuous review of UN operational allowances; review the appointment of the heads of security agencies, ensure parliamentary oversight over security and intelligence agencies and actively engage the services of private security organisations who adhere to decent work and provide fair wages for their employees.

I wish to use this opportunity to urge our men and women in uniform to remember to abide by their oaths of office and protect and defend our constitution before, during, and after the General Elections.

Finally, on security, I call for calm to prevail in Bawku. I appeal to all sides to exercise restraint and silence the weapons. Resolving the Bawku conflict will be one of my first priorities as President.

Responsible Mining.
The need to champion sustainable development stares us in the face as our water bodies stand more polluted than we have ever witnessed in our country’s history. While pursuing green technologies, my administration will promote sustainable mining.

As I have said before, no member of my government will be allowed to engage in mining. I repeat, my appointees will be prohibited from mining to prevent conflicts of interest. Rest assured that every government appointee and party official who flouts the mining laws will be swiftly prosecuted.

Irresponsible and illegal mining (galamsey) will be banned. Mining in forest reserves will also be prohibited because water bodies take their source from these forests.

Small-scale mining will continue to be the preserve of Ghanaians as we take inventory of all licensed small-scale miners and their concessions to build capacity and hold miners accountable.

To this end, we will engage the large mining companies to cede and release abandoned shafts, pits or areas for licensed small-scale miners to exploit. Land reclamation under the Tree for Life and Blue Water initiatives will be key to our determination to protect our environment while encouraging sustainable mining for national development.

This is where graduates from UMAT, UNER and other institutions come in. We shall employ them to support miners. The support will include setting up environmental regulatory outfits like the Environmental Protection Agency and Minerals Commission in mining districts.

Strengthening Local Governance.
The next NDC government will implement true decentralisation and reverse the centralisation of our local government and decentralisation system. To provide policy coherence and ministerial oversight, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development will be responsible for sanitation.

We shall re-introduce the National Sanitation Days and Cleanest City Award scheme to inject a competitive spirit among MMDAs and promote waste-to-energy projects to harness renewable energy sources.

To provide adequate funding for local governance, we will abolish the centralised collection of property rates and stimulate local economic growth and diversification for job creation by offering incentives for local-level investment and processing under the 24-hour economy policy.

With an enhanced District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) from five (5) to seven-point five (7.5) per cent, we will upgrade selected Municipalities, including but not limited to Ho, Kasoa, Ashaiman, Techiman, Koforidua, Sunyani, Bolgatanga, Hohoe, and Wa into Metropolises and upgrade eligible Districts into Municipalities.

All Assembly Members will be paid monthly consolidated allowances to motivate them to monitor the implementation of government projects and programmes within their Electoral Areas. To this end, we will increase the representation of traditional authorities in the decentralised structures and listen to them when they speak.

It is worrying that the government has ignored the cries of the chiefs and people along the flood-affected areas of the Volta River and Lake and has refused to offer adequate compensation to them. As already promised, we shall right the wrongs.

Media Freedom.
I wish to assure our journalists and media practitioners that, under my presidency, we are returning to an era of true media freedom. In this new era of media freedom, journalists will not remain in constant fear over state-sponsored attacks on them. Radio stations critical of the government will not be closed. Journalists will not fear being attacked to the point that some have to seek asylum in other countries.

To promote and guarantee media freedom, expand the frontiers of press freedom, and create a conducive work environment for media practitioners, we will fully implement and operationalise the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989); re-open the investigation into the murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale and ensure prompt action on all cases involving violations of the rights and freedoms of media professionals; support the Ghana Journalists Association, National Media Commission, and other stakeholders to promote an enduring professional media environment; and improve continuous professional development for media practitioners.

We are determined to pass the Broadcasting Bill into law, reactivate the Media Development Fund in consultation with the GJA, and support the growth and economic viability of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and other state-owned media outfits.

 
International Relations.
Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time under the Fourth Republic, Ghana has suffered the shame of defaulting on debt. Our citizens, including pensioners, had their bonds withheld and slashed with crude haircuts.

Even though our external partners have suffered a variant of this crude haircut, the government I will lead from 7th January 2025 is expected to begin paying for the sins of this government’s debt default. This means Ghana’s international relations must be stepped up to restore our global influence, enhance our role in international affairs, and ensure maximum benefits for national development.

Fortunately, unlike my opponent, I am not a stranger to the international relations arena. I will hit the ground running and pursue a comprehensive foreign policy that articulates our enlightened national interest, reaffirms our commitment to regional integration, peace, and security, appreciates contemporary geopolitical realities, and proffers strategic engagements for sustainable world peace, security, and development.

We will intensify economic diplomacy and appoint trade attaches to specifically designated Ghana’s diplomatic missions to market Ghana’s competitiveness.

Ghana’s hosting of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat will be leveraged to reset and accelerate our socio-economic growth and pivot Ghana as Africa’s transport and investment hub. This includes Ghana becoming a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.

To foster good neighbourliness, I will reinforce cordial and mutually supportive relations with our immediate neighbours and engage in strategic initiatives to facilitate the reintegration of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger into ECOWAS, to reaffirm our collective commitment to the principles of sub-regional integration Ghana’s steadfast commitment to the African Union will be sustained.

Ghanaian nationals abroad should be assured of enhanced consular services and proactive programmes that promote and protect their welfare and rights. These rights will include their participation in our political and socioeconomic development.

Conclusion.
Ladies and gentlemen, this evening, I have shared with you some of the concrete governance proposals we seek to implement when given the nod in this year’s General Elections. I have reiterated that Ghana is at a crossroads because injustice is eating our society away, and our economy is inflicting untold hardships on millions of suffering Ghanaians.

I have also reaffirmed my determination to cure the canker of corruption ruthlessly and refreshed your memories on a few of the uncountable corruption scandals this administration has tolerated without sanctions.

To reset Ghana for equitable opportunities and job creation in a 24-hour economy, we also need to restore public confidence in governance institutions that are decaying before our eyes. Not least among them are our courts. My determination to provide adequate safety and security for all Ghanaians under the 24-Hour Economy initiative remains unwavering.

Let me reassure you that we shall build resilient relationships with citizens and our social partners and create room for unfiltered and uncensored encounters between me, my Vice President to be, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman, and moral society.

I trust that by working together with the media, our international development partners, Civil Society Organisations, Traditional and Religious Leaders, and Labour Unions, we shall reset Ghana and relive the dream of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who Spoke of Freedom.

Taking inspiration from Osagyefo, I have Spoken of Governance.

Let us reset Ghana for good governance and accountability.

Thank you, and may God bless us all.