Richard Ahiagbah, the National Communications Director of Ghana’s opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has launched a critique of President John Mahama’s administration, centering on the unfulfilled promise of a 24-hour economy. Ahiagbah contends that this pledge was a cornerstone of the NDC’s campaign and a significant factor in their electoral victory. He points to the absence of budgetary allocations for this initiative, arguing that this omission demonstrates the government’s lack of commitment to its implementation and effectively renders the promise broken. Ahiagbah emphasizes the importance of prioritizing policies that tangibly improve the lives of Ghanaians, questioning the NDC’s focus on what he perceives as less impactful measures.
Ahiagbah’s criticism extends beyond the 24-hour economy to encompass the broader performance of the Mahama administration since taking office in January 2025. He argues that the NDC’s 120-day social contract, a roadmap of intended actions within the first four months of governance, has failed to translate into meaningful improvements in the living conditions of Ghanaians. He dismisses the government’s actions thus far as “inconsequential” in the face of their campaign promises, particularly the commitment to address the high cost of living. Ahiagbah highlights the disconnect between the rhetoric of alleviating economic hardship and the reality experienced by ordinary citizens.
The NPP spokesperson specifically targets the issue of tax relief, contending that the removal of certain taxes touted by the NDC government as a significant achievement would have been equally implemented by the NPP had they won the 2024 election. This argument aims to diminish the NDC’s claims of unique policy initiatives and portray their actions as predictable and lacking in innovative solutions to Ghana’s economic challenges. Ahiagbah’s assertions underscore the NPP’s stance that the current administration is not delivering on its core promises and is failing to address the pressing needs of the population.
Ahiagbah’s criticisms paint a picture of a government struggling to deliver on its campaign promises and failing to meet the expectations of the electorate. He emphasizes the importance of tangible improvements in the lives of Ghanaians, arguing that the NDC’s focus on less impactful policies demonstrates a disconnect from the real needs of the people. The absence of budgetary provisions for the 24-hour economy, a central campaign promise, further reinforces this narrative of unfulfilled commitments and a lack of concrete action.
The NPP’s critique extends beyond specific policy failures to a broader assessment of the NDC’s governance. Ahiagbah questions the effectiveness of the 120-day social contract, arguing that it has failed to produce any substantial improvements in the living conditions of Ghanaians. He dismisses the government’s actions as superficial and inadequate in addressing the pressing issue of the high cost of living. This line of argument aims to portray the NDC as out of touch with the struggles faced by ordinary citizens and lacking the ability to deliver on their promises of economic relief.
By highlighting the issue of tax relief, Ahiagbah seeks to further undermine the NDC’s claims of impactful governance. He argues that the removal of certain taxes, presented by the NDC as a significant achievement, was a predictable course of action that any government would have taken. This strategy aims to diminish the perceived uniqueness of the NDC’s policies and portray them as lacking in innovative solutions to Ghana’s economic challenges. Ultimately, Ahiagbah’s criticisms serve to highlight the NPP’s contention that the current administration is failing to meet the needs of the Ghanaian people and failing to deliver on the promises that brought them to power.
