Mahama’s 120 days: Only 9 of 26 promises hold value – Kosi Dedey

Engineer and policy analyst Michael Kosi Dedey has doubts about President John Mahama’s 120-day contract. He claims only nine of the 26 promises have real value. The rest are “largely symbolic and cosmetic.”

Dedey emphasized that most deliverables lack measurable benefits for the public. He stated, “Only nine of them are worthy. The rest are largely symbolic and cosmetic.”

On Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily, he questioned some pledges. For example, he criticized the rapid appointment of ministers as a given achievement. “You have been given a mandate to run a country,” he said.

Dedey expressed concern over enforcement mechanisms for unmet promises. He asked, “If these 26 items are not done, what is the replication? Is there any punishment?” He believes many promises lack real value.

He also criticized the proposal for a Women’s Bank. Dedey argued existing banks could better address women’s access to loans. “The idea of creating a specialized Women’s Bank is completely unnecessary,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Mahama administration reports progress on several fronts. They claim to have fulfilled key pledges within the 120-day framework. This includes swift cabinet nominations reflecting Mahama's commitment to governance.

The government has reduced the number of ministers and staffers as part of their lean governance promise. They also implemented a Code of Conduct for political appointees to promote transparency.

Economically, they convened a National Economic Dialogue for sustainable recovery strategies. A similar National Education Dialogue was held to adjust education policy.

Social initiatives like "Tree for Life" and "Blue Water" programs aim at reforestation and water management. The No Fee Stress initiative seeks to ease financial pressures on parents with children in basic schools.

Additionally, the government has scrapped several taxes, including the E-Levy and Betting Tax. They plan to remove the Covid-19 Levy in the upcoming budget.

Despite these developments, critics like Dedey argue many promises remain redundant and ineffective.