By Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
President John Dramani Mahama has ended his two-day Eastern Regional tour with a “Resetting Ghana” citizens’ engagement in Koforidua, outlining key policy directions on decentralisation, economic recovery, infrastructure, energy, health, and agriculture.
He commended the Eastern Regional Minister for ongoing development efforts, while raising concerns about the implementation of decentralisation in recent years.
Speaking during a citizens’ engagement in Koforidua, the President noted that although decentralisation dates back to the era of Jerry John Rawlings, its execution has become increasingly centralised.
He said this trend has undermined the effectiveness of local governance, limiting the ability of district authorities to drive development at the grassroots level.
He explained that under the 1992 Constitution, between five and eight percent of national revenue is allocated to the District Assemblies Common Fund. However, past reductions and the capping of statutory funds limited resources to assemblies, sometimes reducing their allocations significantly.
To address this, President Mahama announced that 80 percent of the Common Fund is now being released directly to assemblies to support local development. He added that assemblies have been directed to prioritise schools and CHPS compounds, while committing 20 percent of their funds to completing inherited projects.
On the economy, the President said government has moved from stabilisation to a growth phase, citing a reduction in the debt-to-GDP ratio and a strengthening of the cedi. He revealed that a new economic policy is being finalised to invest one percent of GDP into sectors that create jobs, positioning Ghana among the continent’s leading economies.
Touching on infrastructure, he disclosed that about 2,000 kilometres of roads are under construction nationwide, with contractors being paid upon certification. He highlighted the Ekyi Amanfrom–Adawso road project as a key intervention in the Eastern Region, noting that projects are being financed largely through domestic resources.
On energy, President Mahama commended engineers of the Volta River Authority and Ghana Grid Company for their swift response to a recent control room fire, praising the role of local engineers, including young professionals and women in restoring operations.
He indicated that installed capacity has increased significantly and announced plans to cut sod this year for a 1,200-megawatt gas-powered plant. Additional agreements with ENI and renewed partnerships in the Jubilee fields are expected to boost gas supply and increase generation capacity to about 6,000 megawatts in the coming years.
In the health sector, the President highlighted the introduction of the MahamaCares programme alongside Free Primary Healthcare to expand access, particularly for non-communicable diseases. He called on traditional leaders to support community health screening to promote early detection and prevention.
On agriculture, he encouraged chiefs to take advantage of initiatives such as “Nkoko Nkitinkiti” and the Feed Ghana programme, revealing plans to establish a register for traditional leaders interested in participating.
President Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving livelihoods and expanding opportunities, stressing that sustained development will depend on coordinated efforts and active citizen participation.
