IMANI Report: Mahama’s First Six Months Shift From Optimism to Rising Scepticism

A new assessment by IMANI Africa on the first six months of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration has revealed a shift in public sentiment from strong optimism during the inauguration to growing scepticism driven by governance controversies and partisan tensions.

The report, under the Public Understanding and Literacy for Sentiment and Election Analysis (PULSE) project, analysed data from Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, podcasts, newsfeeds, and the wider web to gauge public reactions between January and June 2025.

Key Findings

• Inauguration Optimism: The #ResettingGhana agenda and the swearing-in of Ghana’s first female Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, generated strong goodwill, with positivity ratings of 65–70%.
• Fiscal Discipline: Early austerity measures, including cutting Independence Day celebrations and appointing anti-corruption teams, received cautious approval.
• Turning Point: By March, goodwill was eroded by mass public sector dismissals, which sparked the viral nickname “Terminator 1.” Although tax abolitions like the E-levy and betting tax won applause, job insecurity fears dominated.
• Credibility Challenges: The private jet controversy and accusations of selective justice in the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative damaged the government’s austerity and anti-corruption messaging.
• Rising Negativity: By June, sentiment was predominantly negative (50% negative vs 45% positive), as dismissals, corruption debates, and governance contradictions overshadowed economic diversification efforts.

Social Media Dynamics

• Pro-NDC narratives highlighted fiscal discipline, cabinet downsizing, and anti-corruption messaging.
• Opposition voices capitalised on the “Terminator 1” meme, private jet use, and selective prosecutions to frame the government as inconsistent.
• Civil society groups adopted “watchful optimism,” questioning due process in dismissals and the credibility of ORAL.

Arrests and Prosecutions

The report flagged perceptions of selective justice, noting aggressive prosecutions of opposition figures such as Chairman Wontumi, alongside discontinued cases involving NDC officials like Collins Dauda, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, and Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. Public backlash grew against what civil society groups described as “weaponisation of state institutions.”

Recommendations

IMANI urged the Mahama administration to:

• Restore credibility by publishing transparent prosecution criteria and ensuring equal treatment across party lines.
• Reform arrest practices, ending “Rambo-style” operations and ensuring proportionate bail terms.
• Deliver economic relief through job creation and cost-of-living improvements.
• Engage youth and civil society with transparency and tangible governance results.

Conclusion

The assessment concludes that Ghana’s political environment is being reshaped by credibility concerns. While initial optimism provided a strong foundation, IMANI warns that unless rhetoric is matched with delivery, early scepticism could harden into lasting disillusionment.

Source: 3News

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