President John Dramani Mahama has emphasised that Ghana's reliance on donor aid and external financial support cannot be overcome through rhetoric alone but requires decisive and sustained action.

Speaking at the 68th Independence Day celebration held at Jubilee House, President Mahama acknowledged the frequent discussions about the country's dependence on imports, donor aid, and International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailouts.

However, he warned that repeating these concerns without implementing concrete solutions risks reducing them to mere clichés.

“Discussions about our independence often highlight our reliance on imports, donor aid, and IMF bailouts as signs of continued dependency. This reminder is repeated so often that, while undeniably real, it risks becoming a cliché,” he said.

He pointed out the contradiction in advocating for self-reliance while still seeking financial assistance from external sources, calling it "meaningless" to proclaim self-sufficiency while continuing to march with a begging bowl in hand.

“Proclaiming self-reliance while marching straight into the hands of donor agencies, begging bowl in hand, is meaningless,” he stressed.

To tackle this challenge, President Mahama assured Ghanaians that his administration is fully committed to restoring economic stability by implementing policies that focus on fiscal discipline and self-sufficiency.

“To break this cycle of dependence and restore our economy, my administration is formulating policies based on fiscal discipline and living within our means,” he concluded.