The renewed confidence surrounding President John Mahama’s return to office is being driven more by discipline than politics, according to president of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe.

He says the government’s early decisions have created a sense of order and fiscal restraint that many Ghanaians had been craving.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, Mr Cudjoe described Mahama’s second term as “phenomenal,” arguing that the administration has benefited from what he called “guided leadership” and a clear departure from unchecked public spending.

“I think the second coming of John Mahama has been phenomenal,” he said, noting that his own review of the data raised questions about how the government had generated such goodwill in a short time.

For Mr Cudjoe, the answer lies in discipline, especially in economic management. He pointed to the tone set by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who has repeatedly stressed that government spending must be tied to value and outcomes.

He said the finance minister’s posture gave reassurance that public funds were being protected and that the national purse was no longer open-ended. That sense of caution, he argued, has helped restore public trust.

Mr Cudjoe referred to Dr Ato Forson’s first budget presentation, describing it as a conversation rather than a ritual. He said the budget laid out clear plans, and subsequent government decisions have consistently reflected the same fiscal logic.

Since then, he noted, almost every major policy move has pointed back to what he called “fiscal medicine,” reinforcing the idea that discipline is now central to governance.

When asked what specifically helped the government build early goodwill, Mr Cudjoe returned to the same point. He said discipline matters because without it, governments become spendthrift and fail to see how much money they waste.

In his view, that discipline explains why the government’s first year has resonated positively with many observers.

He acknowledged that some groundwork was laid under the previous administration, particularly decisions around debt restructuring, which helped stabilise the economic environment the new government inherited.

Still, he said the greater credit lies with the current leadership team assembled by the NDC, from the presidency to the finance ministry. That combination, he argued, gives a sense that state affairs are being organised properly.

For Mr Cudjoe, however, the real test is yet to come. He cautioned that sustainability remains a serious concern, especially in an economy that is heavily dependent on commodities.

He warned that if the current commodity-driven gains fade, the government could face renewed pressure, making discipline even more critical in the years ahead.