The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) has delivered a sobering assessment of President John Dramani Mahama’s first 100 days in office, warning that the country stands at a “crucial crossroads” between democratic renewal and political relapse.
In a statement, the governance watchdog assigned the Mahama administration a performance score of just 4 out of 10, arguing that “much more is expected than has been delivered.”
The CDM’s statement was both urgent and unflinching, urging the President to set aside comfort and face Ghana’s mounting challenges with decisive leadership.
“The presidency, in any democratic society, is not a throne of privilege but a platform of responsibility,” the statement read.
“It is not enough for a leader to avoid conflict or maintain decorum; leadership must be felt through action, tested through adversity, and proven through transformation.”
While the group acknowledged that President Mahama’s early days in office were marked by political calm — citing his “calm demeanor, initial outreach, and respect for institutional continuity” — it said these positive optics had been overshadowed by persistent national challenges, including “political victimisation, erratic power supply, fiscal profligacy, and creeping executive overreach.”
The CDM painted a grim portrait of Ghana’s broader landscape, listing deepening inequality, environmental degradation, threats to judicial independence, economic vulnerability, and public sector dysfunction as critical concerns.
“Ghana’s challenges cannot be solved through rhetoric, symbolism, or partisan maneuvering,” the group stressed.
Beyond its critique, the CDM offered a roadmap for action, calling on Mahama to rise to the moment and become the “transformational leader that this critical juncture demands.”
Among its key demands were:
Curtailing political retribution and upholding the sanctity of the civil service.
Safeguarding judicial independence by resisting attempts to manipulate constitutional checks.
Rescuing Ghana from fiscal recklessness through prudent, pro-poor budgeting.
Combating corruption and illegal mining with decisive, transparent action.
Ensuring energy security through innovation, investment, and integrity — rather than privatization.
Restoring public confidence in security agencies through lawful, accountable, and humane operations.
“These are not just political ideals,” the statement emphasized. “They are democratic imperatives.”
The CDM cautioned that the President’s honeymoon period had officially ended and warned that the window for excuses was closing fast.
“History is watching. The people are watching. The world is watching. And as the clock ticks beyond the 100-day mark, the demand for action grows louder.”
The statement concluded with a challenge to President Mahama to break from the status quo and chart a new course for the nation.
“Let President Mahama demonstrate that this term will not be a repeat of the past, but a courageous break from it. Let him lead not as a caretaker of partisan ambition, but as a custodian of national destiny.”