Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, former Finance Minister and current Member of Parliament for Karaga, has taken a swipe at President John Dramani Mahama over his “fasten your seatbelts” comment during the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), arguing that the economy is headed for trouble rather than take-off.

Speaking on Friday, February 27, after the President’s address in Parliament, Dr Amin Adam said the remark suggested a looming downturn rather than economic progress.

“When the President said Ghanaians should fasten their seatbelts for take-off, I thought he had slipped; he meant they should tighten them for a possible crash, because the economy is crashing,” he stated.

President Mahama, in his SONA presentation delivered under the theme, "Building Prosperity, Restoring Hope", had described Ghana’s economy as being “in take-off mode.”

He urged citizens and stakeholders to brace themselves for sustained growth, declaring, “Our nation is on the runway. It is in take-off mode, and you are all advised to fasten your seatbelts. The journey continues. But the direction is set. And the hope is real.”

The President further outlined what he described as measurable economic gains, noting that Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is projected to reach $113 billion in 2025, up from $83 billion at the end of 2024.

He attributed the improvement to enhanced fiscal discipline and strategic economic reforms implemented by his administration.

However, Dr Amin Adam believes that the government’s optimism does not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians.

He argued that rising economic pressures contradict the narrative of recovery and insisted that the administration must confront what he described as mounting economic challenges rather than project premature confidence.