The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) will hold a public roundtable on Thursday, February 19, 2026, to assess the first year of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
The event will take place at the CDD-Ghana Conference Room, Airport Residential Area, Accra. It will also serve as the official launch of CDD-Ghana’s First-Year Assessment Report on the Mahama Administration.
Why the Assessment Matters
The roundtable offers an opportunity to examine early policy direction, institutional performance, and reform signals. It does not provide a final verdict on an administration. The event would also help structure public reflection around progress, emerging concerns, and future reform pathways.
CDD-Ghana has undertaken similar first-year assessments for previous administrations, including those of Presidents Kufuor, Mahama (first term), and Akufo-Addo. The exercise forms part of the Center’s broader mission to promote democratic governance, socio-political inclusion, and sustainable development through research and public policy engagement.
What Will be Assessed?
The 2026 report examines the Mahama administration’s performance across six thematic areas:
- Democracy, governance, human rights, and the rule of law;
- Anti-corruption and accountability;
- Economy and jobs;
- Environment and social development;
- Foreign affairs and regional integration;
- Defence, security, and peacebuilding
The assessment considers both policy initiatives and early outcomes within these areas.
Under governance and the rule of law, the review will examine cabinet restructuring, constitutional reform efforts, legislative processes, and debates surrounding institutional independence.
On anti-corruption, the report evaluates asset recovery measures, prosecutorial activity, institutional reforms, and public trust in accountability frameworks.
Economic analysis will focus on macroeconomic stabilisation efforts, inflation trends, fiscal coordination, employment conditions, and youth vulnerability.
Environmental and social development themes will cover the fight against illegal mining, education and health policy continuity, poverty reduction measures, and institutional capacity challenges.
In defence and security, the report assesses internal conflict management, recruitment processes, public trust in security services, and the balance between security interventions and civil liberties.
The foreign affairs section reviews diplomatic engagement within West Africa, regional cooperation initiatives, and Ghana’s positioning within multilateral systems.
How the Event Will Unfold
The roundtable, which is open to the public, will bring together policymakers, civil society representatives, academics, media practitioners, and citizens for a structured discussion of the findings.
The objective is to provide an independent and non-partisan assessment of the administration’s first year and to stimulate informed public dialogue. The event will also generate practical recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional effectiveness and accountability going forward.
This event forms part of CDD-Ghana’s continued effort to ensure that governance performance remains subject to research-driven scrutiny and public engagement.
