Governance and Policy Analyst and former Minister of State, Dr. Akwasi Opong-Fosu, has offered a candid reflection on Ghana’s state of affairs during the closing years of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration, stating that the country was on the brink of collapse due to poor leadership, widespread corruption, and weakened institutions.
Delivering the keynote address at the Crossfire Governance and Leadership Public Lecture at the Ghana Technology University College on Friday, July 19, Dr. Opong-Fosu spoke on the theme: “Conversation on Resetting the Nation.”
“Unemployment went up, the cedi kept falling, and many people felt abandoned by their leaders. Protests broke out, and public trust in government reached a breaking point,” he recalled.
He emphasized that the problem was not limited to flawed policies, but extended to a breakdown of public confidence, civic dignity, and institutional integrity.
“It wasn’t just bad policies. It was the erosion of hope, trust, and dignity. People felt like the government had become deaf to their cries.”
Dr. Opong-Fosu said the situation brought Ghana perilously close to national collapse, but the country’s democratic resilience though tested, held firm, with the 2024 general elections serving as a turning point for peaceful change and renewal.
“Ghana’s democratic system held just barely. But it did. And for that, we must commend the Ghanaian people for choosing hope over despair, and action over apathy.”
A New Era of Governance and Shared Responsibility
Dr. Opong-Fosu stated that Ghana is now on a path of national renewal and institutional reset under President John Dramani Mahama and the Reset Agenda, which must be pursued with humility, ethical governance, and a focus on people-centred leadership.
“The mistakes of the past must never be repeated. This reset is not about power, it’s about purpose. It is about restoring ethical governance, dignity in leadership, and service to the people.”
He cautioned members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to assume power as a birthright, but to treat it as a sacred duty to serve the nation with integrity and accountability.
Simultaneously, he called on the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rise to the role of a constructive and responsible opposition, capable of contributing to national development through credible alternatives and oversight.
“The work of resetting Ghana is not for the President alone, it is a shared responsibility. A responsive government must be complemented by a responsible opposition. That is how democracy thrives and nations are built.”
A Defining Moment for Ghana’s Democracy
The lecture, which attracted thought leaders, civil society actors, students, and political watchers, served as a powerful forum for addressing the urgent need for governance reform, national healing, and institutional transformation.
Dr. Opong-Fosu concluded by urging all stakeholders to put the national interest first.
“We must shift from entitlement to service, from politics of exclusion to one of inclusion, and from state capture to state building. This is the essence of the Reset Agenda.” he said.
