By Ernest De-Graft EGYIR

On January 7 ,2025, the world witnessed the dawn of a new chapter in Ghana’s political history with the inauguration of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama as President of the Republic of Ghana. This event was not just a ceremonial transition of power; it marked the reaffirmation of our collective commitment to democratic ideals and Ghana’s potential for transformation.

President Mahama’s address was a masterclass in statesmanship—grounded in history, imbued with optimism, and focused on actionable outcomes. His speech artfully wove together reflections on Ghana’s journey, a sober assessment of its current challenges, and a visionary roadmap for a brighter future.

Leadership rooted in reflection

The President opened with a poignant nod to Ghana’s democratic legacy, particularly the Fourth Republic’s resilience since its establishment in 1993. By referencing milestones such as the first democratic handover of power in 2001 and his own journey alongside former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President Mahama invoked a sense of continuity and shared purpose.

This reflection was not mere nostalgia; it was a reminder of Ghana’s potential to overcome obstacles through unity, respect for democratic principles, and the will of the people.

A Call for a National Reset

The central theme of the President’s speech was “resetting Ghana”—a call to recalibrate the nation’s governance, economy, and social fabric. This theme resonated powerfully with a populace that has endured economic turbulence and governance challenges in recent years. President Mahama acknowledged the frustrations of ordinary Ghanaians and the mandate for change they delivered through the ballot box.

His emphasis on “resetting” struck a chord because it wasn’t about starting anew but about recalibrating the systems, mindsets, and institutions that have guided Ghana thus far. It was a clarion call to refocus on collective goals, individual responsibilities, and shared prosperity.

Strategic Priorities for the Future

President Mahama outlined four critical areas of focus for his administration:

• Economic Restoration and Stability: Recognizing the dire economic circumstances, the President promised swift and decisive action to stabilize the macroeconomic environment and rebuild investor confidence. His proposed 24-hour economy is a bold and innovative step toward unlocking Ghana’s dormant potential and fostering productivity.
• Governance and Constitutional Reforms: The emphasis on governance reform signals an intent to rebuild trust in public institutions and enhance accountability. This will be critical for addressing the disillusionment many Ghanaians feel toward the democratic process.
• The Fight Against Corruption: By placing accountability front and center, President Mahama demonstrated his understanding that good governance is the bedrock of sustainable development.
• Youth Empowerment and Inclusivity: The President’s message to the youth was especially inspiring. His focus on education, entrepreneurship, and job creation reflects a commitment to harnessing Ghana’s most valuable resource—its young population.

  A Historic Moment for Gender Equality

  The inauguration of Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as Ghana’s first female Vice President was a significant milestone that President Mahama rightly celebrated. It underscored his administration’s commitment to inclusivity and the empowerment of women. This historic achievement sends a powerful message about Ghana’s progress toward gender equity and the value of diverse leadership in nation-building.

  Facing Global and Regional Realities

  President Mahama demonstrated a keen awareness of the broader geopolitical and environmental contexts in which Ghana operates. From shifts in global economic power to the growing risks of pandemics and climate change, the President framed Ghana’s challenges within a global lens, emphasizing the need for regional cooperation and proactive policymaking.

  A Vision Rooted in Action

  What set this speech apart was its blend of vision and pragmatism. The President’s 26 actions for the first 120 days signaled an administration ready to hit the ground running. His emphasis on “actions louder than words” reflected a deep understanding of the urgency of the moment.

  A Shared Covenant with the People

  The President concluded with a heartfelt appeal to every Ghanaian to join him in this journey of renewal. By calling for a collective covenant, he reminded us that leadership is a partnership between the government and the governed. His invocation of faith in Ghana—its people, institutions, and future—was both inspiring and unifying.

  A Message of Hope and Resolve

  In sum, President Mahama’s inaugural speech was a resounding call to action for all Ghanaians. It balanced the gravity of our challenges with the hope of what we can achieve together. His focus on accountability, inclusivity, and innovation sets the tone for an administration that is deeply attuned to the aspirations of the people.

  As we move forward, it is incumbent upon all stakeholders—government, private sector, civil society, and individuals—to play their part in realizing the vision of a reset Ghana. Together, we can co-create a nation that not only lives up to its promise but exceeds all expectations.

  Let us rally behind this leadership and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. Ghana’s best days are yet to come.

  Ernest De-Graft Egyir is the Founding CEO of the Ghana CEO Network, a platform that promotes thought collaboration among Ghana’s top Chief executives.

File photo of a power sub station

The Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Security (IES), Nana Amoasi VII, has raised concerns over the timing of the planned maintenance activities on the offshore West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), warning that the exercise could expose Ghana to significant energy supply risks.

The mandatory maintenance operation, set to run from January 20 to February 16, 2025, involves cleaning, inspecting and replacing sub-sea valves along the pipeline. Initially slated for October 2024, the schedule was deferred at the request of the Ministry of Energy, according to a statement issued by Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo).

Nana Amoasi VII, in an interview with B&FT, while citing that the rescheduling raises critical questions, noted the need for adequate preparations for the supply of liquid fuel to power plants in the eastern corridor of the country.

This is given that the current arrangements will starve these plants of natural gas supply. But with the current liquid fuel shortage, he maintained that the country could be put through another period of ‘dumsor.’

The WAGP serves as a critical infrastructure for delivering natural gas from Nigeria to Ghana, Togo and Benin, fuelling power plants and supporting industrial activities. A disruption in its operations, even temporarily, could strain energy production capacity and potentially lead to power outages or increased reliance on costly alternative energy sources.

The IES Director stressed the importance of creating room for additional liquefied fuel supplies before proceeding with the maintenance work. “If not, considering the current challenges onshore, going ahead with the clean-up offshore will impact fuel supply.”

He also urged GRIDCo to engage the government to extend the execution of the exercise, ensuring preparedness and dispelling any notions that the timing is politically motivated.

Nana Amoasi VII further suggested that proper engagement with the government would enable GRIDCo to conduct a more comprehensive risk assessment of any further rescheduling.

He expressed scepticism about the planned duration of the maintenance, citing previous exercises by the company with exceeded timelines.

“If you defer a planned maintenance unnecessarily, then you are accepting that there can be a false shutdown of the system,” he said. Such delays, he warned, could lead to larger challenges, underscoring the importance of thorough and timely preparation.

GRIDCo’s report on the impending exercise stated that a total of 180 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas is consumed by the Sunon Asogli Plant, Cenpower, KTPP, TT1PP, AKSA, and Bridge Power plants in Tema.

During the pigging period, the WAGP lateral in Tema will be closed, leading to no gas supply for these thermal plants – except those capable of running on liquid fuel. This will require the shutdown of several gas-fired plants in Tema, reducing generation capacity.

Meanwhile, thermal plants in the Western Region—TAPCo, TICo, Karpower, and Twin City—consume about 230 mmscfd of natural gas. Additionally, Anwomaso Thermal Power Station in Kumasi and Genser Energy Power Stations together consume 75 mmscfd of gas. Non-power sectors in the West account for another 35 mmscfd.

With domestic gas production from ENI and Tullow providing a total of 345 mmscfd, the region’s supply will be sufficient to meet demand; even accommodating the 80–90 mmscfd delivered from Nigeria via the WAGP.

To facilitate the pigging exercise, gas production from ENI and Tullow will need to be adjusted to balance supply and consumption. GRIDCo also plans to dispatch hydro plants at high capacity during the maintenance period to offset the thermal generation shortfall in Tema. Akosombo GS is projected to run all six units continuously, while Bui GS will operate its units in staggered shifts to maximise output.

However, the report noted that a deficit in generation capacity is still anticipated, emphasising the urgent need to procure liquid fuel to sustain thermal plants in Tema. An estimated US$89.9million is required to purchase the necessary liquid fuel to meet demand during this period.