President John Dramani Mahama on Friday delivered his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Parliament in Accra, declaring that Ghana's economy has stabilised and that the country is ready for a new phase of accelerated development.
Addressing lawmakers under the constitutional mandate of Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, President Mahama struck a confident tone from the outset:
"Mr. Speaker, I told this august House when I appeared before you last year that we would have to take tough, prudent and necessary decisions to restore stability and credibility. Today, I can say with confidence: Ghana is back. Ghana is working again. And Ghana is open for business."
He closed the address with a rallying call to citizens:
"Fasten your seat belts, we're in takeoff mode."
The address was President Mahama's second SONA since returning to office following his 2024 general election victory. It covered the economy, healthcare, education, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, national security, and governance.
Economy: Record Reserves, Lowest Inflation in 27 Years
President Mahama highlighted sweeping macroeconomic gains under his administration. Ghana's foreign reserves have reached a record US$13.8 billion, covering 5.7 months of imports, while GDP is projected to reach $133 billion — an 86% increase. Inflation has dropped to 3.8%, the lowest in approximately 27 years.
The President attributed the reserve milestone largely to the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), which exported 103 tonnes of gold in just ten months, generating over US$10 billion in foreign exchange. He also endorsed the newly passed Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation (GANRA) policy — a gold-backed reserve framework — with a weekly gold purchase target of approximately 3.02 tonnes.
Foreign remittances also hit a record $7.8 billion in 2025, and the cedi has seen meaningful strengthening. Over one million jobs were created during the year, with nearly one million Ghanaians exiting poverty.
"Our citizens were reeling from unimaginable hardship caused by years of general imprudence and reckless management of the economy. I was clear from the outset that recovery would not come easily. But I was also clear that I would stop at nothing to turn this situation around and bring relief to Ghanaians."
Infrastructure: "The Whole of Ghana Is Under Construction"
President Mahama declared that Ghana's infrastructure transformation is firmly underway under his flagship "Big Push" agenda. By the end of 2025, the government had cleared nearly GH¢10 billion in arrears owed to road contractors.
The centrepiece of the programme is the proposed Accra-Kumasi Expressway — a 198.7-kilometre, six-lane high-speed motorway with eight interchanges that would cut travel time between the two cities to approximately two and a half hours. Feasibility studies and detailed designs are already underway.
Road tolls are being reintroduced to generate dedicated funding for road maintenance and expansion. The President also announced major upgrades for the Accra, Sunyani, Bolgatanga, and Wa airports, and unveiled plans to establish a national airline.
Healthcare: "No Patient Will Be Turned Away"
The President pledged to put an end to the "no-bed syndrome" in Ghanaian hospitals, addressing a crisis that has gripped the public following the death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah, who reportedly died after being denied emergency care at several facilities.
"No patient in an emergency situation will be turned away."
He appealed to healthcare workers to accept postings to underserved communities, adding pointedly:
"You don't need to have a comfortable bed to save a patient."
Plans to strengthen the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and expand health infrastructure nationwide were also outlined.
Education: No-Fee Stress, 600 New Schools, Three New Technical Universities
President Mahama reaffirmed education as central to Ghana's transformation agenda. His No-Fee Stress initiative has already benefited over 152,000 first-year students in public tertiary institutions — a figure expected to reach approximately 220,000 within the academic year.
He announced plans to construct 600 new basic schools to end the phenomenon of "schools under trees" and to establish three new technical universities to broaden access to skills-based higher education. Law students will now also be eligible to access support through the Student Loan Trust Fund.
Anti-Corruption: GH¢600 Million Recovered, 114 Galamsey Cases in Court
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) recovered over GH¢600 million in stolen state funds as of December 2025, the President revealed. EOCO investigated 462 cases, with 15 currently under prosecution, and has dismantled transnational car-jacking syndicates.
"Corruption will not be tolerated, regardless of status or political affiliation."
The Attorney General's Office will pursue both criminal prosecution and non-conviction-based asset recovery to return stolen resources to the state. On the fight against illegal mining (galamsey), Mahama confirmed that over 114 cases are currently pending in court.
Agriculture, Energy, and Creative Arts
The President announced government's plan to begin mega dam projects and rehabilitation programmes to transform agriculture. He also assured cocoa farmers that reforms are underway to guarantee fair returns on their produce, noting that Ghanaian cocoa farmers currently earn more than double the rates paid to their counterparts in Côte d'Ivoire.
On energy, Mahama confirmed that the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has resumed operations for the first time since 2018:
"I'm pleased to inform this August House that for the first time since 2018, the refinery has commenced processing of crude oil into petroleum products once more."
In a boost for the creative sector, the government has invested GH¢40 million in Ghana's film and creative arts industry.
Governance and Tourism: Visa, Passport, and World Cup
The President unveiled a new 5-day visa service and confirmed that the passport backlog has been cleared, with delivery now taking 15 days. With Ghana set to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, Mahama urged supporters:
"Return to Ghana after the World Cup."
Security
Two military camps are to be constructed at Ejumako and Dambai to strengthen border security and enhance patrols.
A Divided Parliament
The NPP Minority MPs attended the address dressed in all-black as a sign of protest — some holding cocoa beans and chanting slogans. Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu dismissed the gesture, saying it did not change the economic realities outlined in the address.
The Majority side responded to the President's announcements with sustained applause throughout the session.
"Restore Hope as a Lived Reality"
Closing on a note of both ambition and solidarity, President Mahama framed the ultimate goal of his administration in terms that transcended economics:
"The ultimate goal of my administration is to restore hope — not merely as a promise, but as a lived reality of Ghanaians and Africans alike."
The 2026 SONA sets the government's legislative and policy blueprint for the year ahead, underpinned by President Mahama's overarching "Resetting Ghana" agenda.
