President John Dramani Mahama delivered a robust State of the Nation Address (SONA) to Parliament on Thursday, declaring that Ghana is firmly on a path to recovery after years of economic hardship. Framing the moment as a “defining turn” for the country, he unveiled twin domestic and continental agendas aimed at cementing the nation’s resurgence.
“Today, I stand before you to speak to another such defining moment, a moment in which our nation is on the rebound of national renewal and of restored hope,” President Mahama told a packed chamber, including Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo and Members of Parliament.
The address, which sets the stage for the 69th Independence anniversary on March 6 under the theme Building Prosperity, Restoring Hope, was underpinned by what the President described as two interlinked strategies: the “Resetting Ghana” agenda for domestic renewal and the “Accra Reset” for continental leadership.
Economic Turnaround Highlighted
President Mahama painted a stark picture of the economy his administration inherited, describing it as being in “severe crisis, burdened by unsustainable debt, high inflation, a rapidly depreciating currency and an escalating cost of living crisis.”
He asserted that decisive measures to halt the economic decline and restructure debt obligations are now yielding significant results. Citing key metrics from the past year, the President announced that Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had surged from $83 billion in 2024 to $113 billion in 2025, propelling the nation into the top ten economies in Africa.
He further detailed that average GDP growth hit 6.1% in the first three quarters of 2025, while the fiscal deficit was aggressively cut to 3.1%—below the projected target. In a key indicator of fiscal consolidation, President Mahama highlighted a reduction in public debt by GH¢82.1 billion, which lowered the debt-to-GDP ratio from 61.8% to 45.3%.
“These measures have begun to deliver some of the most remarkable economic outcomes in decades,” he stated. “Ghana is back. Ghana is working again, and Ghana is open for business. The fundamentals are improving, and the path to sustained acceleration is very clear to everyone.”
A Vision Beyond Borders
While celebrating the domestic rebound, President Mahama positioned Ghana’s future within the broader context of African progress. He introduced the “Accra Reset” agenda as a foreign policy doctrine focused on shifting the continent “from dependence to self-reliance, from fragmentation to integration and from reactive postures to strategic leadership.”
He urged African nations to “summon the courage to shape their own destiny,” citing Ghana’s recent hosting of a Health Sovereignty Summit as a practical step toward the continent taking ownership of its health systems and economic resources.
The President argued that “strong economies require healthy populations and health sovereignty is inseparable from economic sovereignty,” and called for the dismantling of trade bottlenecks to create a genuine continent-wide common market.
A Promise of Discipline
President Mahama concluded his address with a vow of fiscal discipline and a message of cautious optimism. He framed the “Resetting Ghana” agenda as a long-term commitment to restore public trust and deliver tangible improvements for ordinary citizens.
“Our nation is on the runway in takeoff mode, and you are all advised to fasten your seat belts,” he told the nation, pledging that his administration’s path forward would be anchored in transparency and inclusive growth.
