Afenyo-Markin and his colleagues addressing the media

Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, has criticised President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as "self-praise without substance" during his 120-day address to the nation.

According to Afenyo-Markin, Mahama’s speech was akin to “setting his own exam, marking it himself, and awarding himself high marks,” despite what he views as an uninspiring first 120 days in office.

He questioned the rationale behind the President commending his own administration when, in his opinion, there has been little tangible progress to warrant such praise.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Minority Leader accused President Mahama of "overstating" his achievements in key areas such as governance reform, tax relief, job creation, and the fight against illegal mining.

He argued that the national address, delivered the night before, failed to adequately acknowledge the most pressing challenges facing the country.

“The President set the questions, wrote the exam, marked the script, and gave himself a distinction,” Afenyo-Markin said.

“But the Ghanaian people are not fooled,” he claimed.

He further contended that many of the initiatives highlighted by the President were not new but rather rebranded campaign promises or recycled versions of existing programmes that have yet to deliver meaningful outcomes.

“This isn’t a presidency charting new territory. It’s a return flight to the familiar, where promises are repackaged and accountability is replaced by applause,” he stated.

Background

On May 7, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama delivered an address to the nation, providing an account of his first 120 days in office.

He reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling the promises made under his 120-day social contract with the Ghanaian people, emphasising that his administration is focused on implementing reforms with urgency and integrity.

The President outlined a number of bold actions taken during the initial phase of his presidency, describing them as the foundation for "Resetting Ghana" and building a more just, inclusive, and accountable society.

According to President Mahama, these initiatives go beyond symbolic gestures or campaign rhetoric, representing a genuine shift in governance. He stressed that his government is ushering in a new era defined by transparency, efficiency, and urgency.

Among the key achievements he highlighted were the establishment of a lean government, the removal of burdensome taxes, the introduction of a new code of conduct, job creation programmes, and robust measures to combat illegal mining.

He also mentioned reforms in tourism, environmental policy, and the national scholarship system as part of his broader development agenda.

“We laid out a social contract with you, the people of Ghana, with specific promises for this critical initial period. Tonight, I’m pleased to report that we have fulfilled these promises,” the President said.

“These actions are not merely checkboxes. They signify a fundamental shift in how government operates. While more work remains, we are on the right path,” he concluded.

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