A new assessment by IMANI Africa on the first six months of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration has found that initial goodwill surrounding his “ResettingGhana” agenda has been eroded by mounting controversies and perceived inconsistencies in governance.

According to the report, the January 2025 inauguration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government generated strong positive sentiment, with cost-cutting measures and anti-corruption initiatives receiving cautious public approval. 

However, it noted that by March, criticism dubbed “Terminator 1” on social media began to dominate the conversation, focusing on mass dismissals across public institutions.

The think tank further observed that a “private jet controversy” and allegations of “selective justice” had compounded the erosion of public confidence. Drawing on data from Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, TikTok, podcasts, newsfeeds and the wider web, IMANI said the initial optimism had given way to rising scepticism as governance controversies, policy contradictions and partisan tensions reshaped the national discourse.

The analysis stressed that while the administration’s fiscal discipline and anti-corruption drive still offer a potential foundation, its ability to deliver tangible improvements and maintain consistent messaging will determine whether early scepticism hardens into lasting disillusionment. 

“If the administration is to recover, it must match rhetoric with delivery, avoid contradictions, and engage youth and civil society with transparency and tangible results. The lesson is clear; in Ghana’s fast-moving media environment, credibility is the most valuable political currency,” the report concluded.