President John Dramani Mahama has described Ghana as resilient and entering a new phase of recovery, urging citizens to play an active role in shaping the country’s future during his Ghana State of the Nation Address delivered to Parliament of Ghana on Friday, February 27, 2026.
Addressing lawmakers and the nation, the President acknowledged that difficult periods are part of a country’s journey but stressed that Ghana’s strength lies in its people’s determination.
“Nations endure not because they are spared trial, but because their people refuse to surrender to trial. Ghana has been tested before. We did not surrender. We will not surrender now,”
President Mahama described the country’s current outlook as one of cautious optimism, declaring that “the state of our nation is resilient” and that Ghana is “on the brink of takeoff.”
Using a metaphor to signal renewed momentum, he told citizens to “fasten your seat belts,” indicating that the country is preparing for a period of accelerated progress. Drawing on an African proverb, the President said Ghana was emerging from past economic and social challenges.
“However long the night is, the dawn will break. The dawn is breaking for Ghana,” he stated, adding that the moment requires both endurance and practical action to consolidate recovery.
Citizens urged to drive national renewal
A central theme of the address was shared responsibility. The President emphasised that the country’s future depends not only on government policies but also on the collective effort of citizens across all sectors.
He noted that farmers, traders, teachers, healthcare workers, entrepreneurs, public servants and young people all have a stake in the nation’s progress. “Our nation belongs to all of us,” he said, adding that each citizen “has a duty and a claim on the future we are shaping together.”
President Mahama stressed that Ghana’s renewal must be reflected in stronger institutions, a more resilient economy and a culture of responsibility passed on to future generations.
He cautioned that policy reforms alone cannot deliver national transformation without active civic participation. “No policy can substitute for civic duty,” he said, while pledging to carry the burden of leadership accountability.
He also urged Ghanaians not to define the country by its challenges but by its response to them. Reflecting on the nation’s history, he noted that citizens have repeatedly chosen “steadiness over despair, cooperation over division, and purpose over cynicism.”
The President concluded by reminding Parliament that Ghana has overcome difficult periods before, including economic strain and major political transitions, expressing confidence that the same resilience would guide the country toward sustained stability and growth.
