Political analyst Samuel Boateng has offered a largely positive assessment of President John Dramani Mahama’s performance to date.
Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Mr Boateng suggested that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) maintains strong support.
He projected that, if elections were held currently, six out of every ten voters would likely cast their ballot for the NDC.
He explained that the current President received a massive mandate from the electorate due to the trust placed in his electoral promises. While acknowledging that a full evaluation of any government requires more time—stating that one year is too early for a comprehensive assessment—he was quick to commend the administration’s initial efforts.
“If you evaluate the performance of this government, you can agree that it has been satisfactory so far,” Boateng stated. “The trust Ghanaians vested in the President, and the promises they made, I believe are being delivered, although there remains significant room for improvement. There are those who wish for the government’s success, and others who are keen for it to fail so they can assume office. But the truth is, they have performed well. Six out of ten voters would still vote for them if elections were held today.”
Samuel Boateng noted that the opposition, driven by its interest in winning power, will naturally attempt to undermine the government by labelling every policy as ineffective. This, he argued, is done to gain public favour and secure victory in the next general election.
On the critical issue of security and safety, the analyst stressed the government’s responsibility to guarantee the safety of both Ghanaians and foreigners visiting for tourism and business. He pointed out a recent increase in criminal activities, urging the President to advise the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to enhance operational performance.
“I would advise the President to be concerned about the security of the people. Just as they have stabilized the economy and kept the cedi stable, they must equally ensure the safety and security of the populace,” he added.
Mr. Boateng cited illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) as one of the major areas where the current administration has failed to deliver on its commitments. He criticized the government for allegedly making “political capital” out of the galamsey issue and even promising to declare a state of emergency if they won power.
“But today, they have changed the goalposts. That is unfortunate, and we admonish them to deliver on their promises regarding galamsey,” he stated.
The analyst also touched upon the controversial removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. He conceded that the removal was legally grounded but criticised the political drama surrounding the process, which he deemed detrimental.
“Another albatross hanging around the neck of President Mahama was the removal of the Chief Justice. While the removal may be grounded in law, it was excessively political and undermines the independence of the other arms of government. We should strive to strengthen the various arms of government so they can remain truly independent.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
