Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has congratulated President John Dramani Mahama on his first year in office, while cautioning that the sacred mandate entrusted to him by Ghanaians must not be taken lightly.

Speaking in a New Year message on Wednesday, December 31, Dr Bawumia said the Ghanaian people had placed enormous trust in President Mahama and urged him to govern in a manner that safeguards peace, stability, and national unity.

“I sincerely wish him well in the discharge of his mandate. The Ghanaian people have bestowed a sacred trust on him, and he cannot afford to fail them,” Dr Bawumia stated.

He stressed that Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of stability in a region plagued by turmoil must be protected, noting that the foundation inherited by the current administration was solid and should be strengthened rather than eroded.

Dr Bawumia’s comments come against the backdrop of Ghana’s declining ranking on the 2025 Global Peace Index, where the country dropped six places globally to 61st and fell from fourth to seventh in Sub-Saharan Africa. He said the figures point to growing security concerns and pockets of unrest that require urgent attention.

The former Vice President also raised concerns about what he described as emerging cracks in Ghana’s democratic institutions, which he said have long been a source of international admiration since the inception of the Fourth Republic.

He cited the removal of Ghana’s third female Chief Justice, describing the process as deeply troubling for those who believe in the independence of the judiciary.

“When institutions are weakened, democracy is weakened. When institutions are politicised, trust is lost,” Dr Bawumia warned, adding that Ghana’s democracy must never be sacrificed for short-term political advantage.

According to him, growing public anxiety over national cohesion and the credibility of democratic institutions should not be ignored, as loss of confidence undermines progress and stability.

Dr Bawumia therefore called on President Mahama to focus on strengthening, rather than undermining, the institutions that underpin Ghana’s democratic governance, stressing that there must be no turning back for the nation.