Gospel musician and New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporter Nicholas Omane Acheampong stated on Sunday that he is struggling to find anything impressive about the performance of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government under President John Dramani Mahama after just over one year in office.
In a blunt assessment of the administration shared in a video on social media, Omane Acheampong stated he cannot even rate the government’s performance. He asked what the administration has done that is extraordinary, questioning what Ghanaians can point to apart from the dollar stabilizing somewhat against the cedi.
According to the veteran musician, many Ghanaians are still feeling the weight of economic pressure. He described a climate marked by rising costs of goods and services, stating that there is hardship everywhere and urging people to go to the market, go to the fuel station and talk to ordinary traders who are struggling.
Omane Acheampong insisted that expectations were high when the NDC returned to power in January 2025, but he believes those expectations have not been met. He stated the assessment is not about politics alone but about the daily reality of the Ghanaian people.
The gospel artist stated that if asked to score the government today, he honestly cannot because there is nothing significant enough to celebrate. He emphasized that his criticism reflects concerns shared by ordinary citizens rather than partisan political calculations.
President Mahama was inaugurated on January 7, 2025, following the NDC’s decisive victory in the December 2024 general elections. The party secured 183 parliamentary seats compared to the NPP’s 88, while Mahama defeated NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia by over 1.6 million votes.
The Ghana cedi strengthened from approximately 16 cedis per dollar in December 2024 to around 10.98 cedis by early February 2026 following government debt restructuring, International Monetary Fund (IMF) program compliance and improved foreign exchange inflows. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) reduced the Monetary Policy Rate from 28 percent to 18 percent over consecutive meetings through February 2026.
However, inflation remains elevated at 18.1 percent as of January 2026, down from 23.2 percent in December 2024, while food inflation stood at 20.3 percent. Many Ghanaians continue facing high costs for basic goods and services despite macroeconomic improvements reflected in official statistics.
The government has implemented several policy initiatives including the 24 hour economy strategy targeting job creation, reduction of the effective Value Added Tax (VAT) rate from 21.9 percent to 20 percent, and abolition of the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy effective January 2026.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson announced comprehensive cocoa sector reforms on February 12, including a new domestic cocoa bond financing system replacing the collapsed syndicated loan model. The government also announced plans to process a minimum of 50 percent of cocoa beans locally beginning the 2026-27 season.
President Mahama announced at the African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa on Saturday that Ghana will stop using foreign financing to purchase cocoa and instead raise domestic bonds in cedis, while setting a 2030 deadline to end exports of unprocessed mineral ores including manganese, bauxite and iron ore.
The government secured parliamentary approval to raise 250 billion cedis through domestic borrowing in the 2026 fiscal year, with funds earmarked for budget support, refinancing maturing debt and critical infrastructure projects. Critics have questioned whether the heavy domestic borrowing will crowd out private sector credit and push up interest rates.
Omane Acheampong has been a vocal NPP supporter and critic of NDC governments. In December 2025, he criticized the government’s handling of the cocoa crisis, stating that what Mahama is doing is not good at all following the announcement of farmgate price reductions.
The musician’s latest comments reflect broader public discourse about government performance metrics and delivery on campaign promises. The NDC campaigned on themes of economic reset, job creation, anti corruption and restoration of democratic norms following the NPP’s eight year tenure.
Political analysts have noted that governments typically face heightened scrutiny during their early years as citizens compare campaign promises against actual delivery. The Mahama administration has emphasized that many economic challenges inherited from the previous government require time to address comprehensively.
The government’s first budget presented in November 2025 projected economic growth of 5.3 percent for 2026, with inflation targeted at 13 percent by year end. The budget also outlined plans for significant infrastructure investments in roads, energy, water and digital connectivity.
Opposition voices including Omane Acheampong have questioned whether visible improvements in living standards will materialize within reasonable timeframes. Supporters counter that macroeconomic stabilization represents necessary groundwork for broader economic transformation and poverty reduction.
The debate reflects ongoing tensions between technical economic indicators showing improvement and citizens’ lived experiences of hardship. Government officials have acknowledged the gap and pledged accelerated implementation of programs directly impacting household welfare.
