President John Dramani Mahama has returned to Ghana’s presidency with a promise to steer the country in a new direction, backed by experience from a political career that has seen him rise, fall, and rise again. Since his inauguration in January 2025, Mahama’s government has unveiled a series of ambitious plans aimed at delivering tangible improvements in infrastructure, mining, and public enterprise management.
One of the most striking developments under Mahama’s leadership is the progress on the Accra-Kumasi Expressway. For decades, this highway linking Ghana’s two largest economic centres has been a stalled project. The recent acquisition of the right-of-way, a hurdle many believed insurmountable, has cleared the way for construction to begin next year. The project is funded by $2 billion mobilised by Ghana, a sum that signals a strong vote of confidence in the country’s financial strength and governance, especially considering the debt crisis and limited access to international capital markets just two years ago.
The Accra-Kumasi Expressway is expected to cut congestion, reduce transport costs, and improve logistics nationwide. Roads like this do more than connect cities. They link people to jobs, businesses to markets, and ambition to opportunity. This project is already being seen as one of the most ambitious road initiatives in Ghana’s history.
Beyond roads, Mahama’s government has focused on reforms in the mining sector. Ghana has long faced challenges in translating its mineral wealth into broad economic benefits. For years, artisanal gold mining was a sector where much of the value escaped the country, even as billions of dollars in minerals were exported. The government now pushes to increase local participation through the Gold Board mechanism and other policies, encouraging value addition and creating opportunities for Ghanaian businesses and professionals.
The government has introduced sliding-scale royalty mechanisms timed to gold price fluctuations. This approach allows Ghana to benefit more when prices are high while remaining competitive during price downturns. A citizen and businessman quoted in a recent report said, “Good policy is not about choosing between investors and citizens. It is about creating a framework that serves both interests.”
Localization is another focus. Ghana is encouraging greater indigenous participation in mining and related industries, aiming to build expertise, develop technology, and create sustainable businesses. This approach moves beyond simply owning mineral resources toward controlling supply chains and investing in long-term prosperity.
Mahama’s agenda also includes modernising and expanding airport infrastructure. Ghana’s position as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area secretariat makes this a strategic move. Improved airports drive trade, tourism, and investment by moving people, goods, capital, and ideas more efficiently. This push reinforces Ghana’s competitiveness and its role as a preferred destination for business in West Africa.
State-owned enterprises have also come under scrutiny. Many have long been seen as burdens on taxpayers due to weak governance and inefficiency. Mahama’s government is pushing for reform, demanding measurable results and better performance from these institutions. The aim is to transform them from resource consumers into engines of economic growth that support national priorities and deliver clear benefits to citizens.
This focus on accountability and efficiency signals a government willing to confront difficult realities to improve outcomes. The drive to reform public enterprises is described as necessary and overdue.
Mahama’s political journey—from vice president to president, then opposition leader, and now president again—gives him a unique perspective. He has experienced the privileges of power and the lessons of political defeat. This blend of experience shapes his understanding of governance and the urgency of translating vision into delivery.
Observers say his return is not just a political comeback but the return of a leader who understands the limits of government and the need for practical, results-driven leadership.
As construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway approaches and reforms deepen in mining and public enterprises, Ghana is testing its capacity to turn ambitious plans into reality. The coming months will show whether Mahama’s second tenure can deliver the breakthroughs the country has long awaited.
According to 3News.
