President Mahama’s domestic and continental policy outlines

Addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly, President John Dramani Mahama detailed domestic recovery strategies and his vision for African leadership.

Domestically, Mahama presented the “Resetting Ghana Agenda,” which prioritizes fiscal discipline, infrastructure through the Big Push Programme, and industrial growth via a 24-Hour Economy. He highlighted progress in stabilizing the cedi and reducing inflation, while noting the rollout of the Free Primary Health Care Programme, which aims for nationwide coverage by 2028, and the “MahamaCare” medical trust fund. Regarding illegal mining, or “galamsey,” Mahama clarified that while the military has cleared incursions from nine forest reserves, a state of emergency is a last resort and impractical because the issue affects approximately 10 regions simultaneously.

During the assembly, Mahama engaged in high-level diplomatic and economic discussions, including meetings with Boeing executives to discuss a strategic aviation partnership for reviving Ghana’s national airline and establishing a regional maintenance hub. He also held bilateral talks with Suriname’s President, Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, to strengthen cooperation in education and the gold sector.

On a continental level, Mahama outlined goals for Ghana’s upcoming African Union chairmanship in January 2027. He advocated for African economic sovereignty, arguing that the continent must transition from raw mineral extraction to industrial processing of resources like cobalt, lithium, and gold. He pledged to champion the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), protect vulnerable populations and small island states, and ensure Africa maintains a unified voice on the global stage.