By: Alexander Afriyie
In a recent statement, Franklin Cudjoe, founder of IMANI Africa, expressed relief and appreciation for President John Mahama’s first 120 days in office. Cudjoe described the period as “liberating” after what he termed the previous administration’s “horror movie” governance.
Criticism of Previous Administration.
Cudjoe’s praise for President Mahama comes after he heavily criticized the previous government’s handling of key issues. Some of the criticisms included.
– SALL Controversy: Cudjoe slammed the previous government’s handling of the SALL issue, labeling the Supreme Court’s actions as “high-handed” and biased.
– Judiciary: He accused the Supreme Court of being overly political and acting as a “pliant” ally for the previous government.
– Electoral Commission: Cudjoe also criticized the Electoral Commission, accusing it of obfuscation, lies, and fraudulent activities.
Mahama’s 120-Day Achievements.
President Mahama’s administration has reported progress on several fronts, including:
– Cabinet Formation: Mahama quickly formed a small and efficient government with 56 ministers and named his full cabinet within 14 days.
– Tax Reforms: The government scrapped the E-Levy, Emissions Levy, and Betting Tax to ease the cost of living.
– 24-Hour Economy: The administration launched a 24-hour economy initiative, with 24/7 services at the Passport Office and DVLA.
– Education: Over 156,000 first-year students in public universities are no longer paying academic fees, and free tertiary education is being prepared for persons with disabilities.
Mixed Reactions.
While Cudjoe has praised President Mahama’s performance, others have been more critical. The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, described Mahama’s 120-day report as “empty and cosmetic”. Similarly, policy analyst Michael Kosi Dedey questioned the value of some of the promises, stating that only 9 out of 26 hold real value. ALEXANDER AFRIYIE