President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his determination to use his second coming in office to entrench a governance and development architecture that cannot be reversed by any succeeding government, placing strong emphasis on environmental stewardship and climate resilience as a defining pillar of his agenda.
Addressing the 77th Annual New Year School and Conference at the University of Ghana, Legon, on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, President Mahama said Ghana must move beyond policy discontinuity and short-term fixes, warning that progress made under one administration should no longer be dismantled under another.
He said his renewed mandate would be used to raise the country’s economy and governance systems “to a level that no succeeding government can reverse”.
While outlining a five-pillar framework for building what he described as “the Ghana we want,” the President devoted particular attention to Environmental Stewardship and Climate Resilience, arguing that sustainable development is impossible if the country continues to degrade its natural resource base.
“We cannot build the Ghana we want while destroying the natural foundations of our future,” President Mahama said, citing illegal mining, deforestation and pollution as direct threats to food security, water systems, livelihoods and public health
He emphasized that his administration would pursue a climate-smart development path, including stricter enforcement of sustainable mining practices, protection of forests and water bodies, investment in renewable energy, and stronger climate adaptation measures for vulnerable communities. According to him, environmental protection and economic development are not mutually exclusive, but “mutually reinforcing imperatives” when properly managed.
Beyond environmental issues, President Mahama briefly highlighted other four pillars of his agenda. Pillar One focuses on building a vibrant and resilient economy through diversification, value addition and flagship initiatives such as the 24-Hour Economy and the Accelerated Export Development Programme. He noted that recent macroeconomic gains, including lower inflation, a stronger currency and improved debt ratios, demonstrate the impact of early reforms..
Pillar Two centres on human capital development, with renewed investment in education, skills training, digital innovation and youth empowerment. The President reaffirmed government support for initiatives such as the Digital Youth Village and the Centre for Digital Youth Development, describing Ghana’s youth as “assets to be empowered” rather than problems to be managed.
Under Pillar Three, President Mahama outlined plans to deepen good governance, accountability and national discipline, including the establishment of an Independent Value for Money Office to ensure efficient use of public resources and renewed engagement on constitutional reforms
The fifth pillar, Inclusion, Cohesion and Shared National Purpose, aims to ensure that development benefits are equitably distributed across regions, genders and generations, with progress measured not only by economic growth but also by reduced inequality and improved quality of life.
President Mahama concluded by calling for broad national partnership, urging academia, the private sector, civil society, traditional authorities and the media to play active roles in sustaining development. He said the success of his second term would ultimately depend on collective discipline, unity and a shared commitment to long-term national goals.
Read the full speech below:
By: Christian Kpesese/naturalresourcesnews.com
