If Mahama Wants To Be Remembered Like Akufo-Addo, He Must Choose a Flagship Policy – Adam Amin

According to 3News, former Finance Minister Adam Amin has called on President John Mahama to pursue a major national policy that will define his presidency and benefit future generations, using Nana Akufo-Addo’s Free SHS initiative as an example of a lasting political legacy.

Amin made the remarks in an interview in Tamale on Sunday, September 7, 2025. He advised the president not to become overly concerned with short-term political recognition but to concentrate on programmes capable of producing meaningful and long-term results.

He acknowledged that Akufo-Addo’s administration was not without its shortcomings, but argued that the former president’s Free SHS programme remains an important achievement that has changed the lives of many young Ghanaians.

Amin said Mahama should similarly develop a policy that ordinary citizens can directly benefit from, particularly the country’s growing youth population. He stressed that young people are looking to the government for better education, employment opportunities and renewed hope.

The Mahama administration has identified job creation, industrial development and healthcare as some of its key priorities since returning to power. Among the initiatives introduced by the government is the “One District, One Health Centre” programme, which is intended to improve healthcare access in underserved communities.

However, concerns remain over the implementation of some policies. Civil society organisations and other critics have called for the Free SHS programme to be strengthened and improved instead of being weakened or scrapped.

Deputy Information Minister Ama Mensima said the government appreciated Amin’s comments and insisted that Mahama was already pursuing a long-term development agenda. She explained that the president’s objective was to leave behind a legacy of transformation.

Political analyst Kojo Mensah similarly argued that a strong presidential legacy is built through bold policy choices and sustained implementation. He suggested that Mahama would need a defining achievement that could stand alongside major policies associated with previous administrations.

Amin ultimately urged the president to think beyond the immediate political cycle, stressing that while presidents eventually leave office, the policies and institutions they establish can continue to influence the country long after their tenure ends.