Legal Green Association touts 1-year achievement of NDC

By News Desk

The Legal Green Association (LGA), a progressive, left-wing group of law students and young lawyers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has touted the successes and achievements of the current government since January last year till date, describing its performance as unprecedented.

A statement by the LGA, Festus Matey, Leader, Legal Green Association, dubbed, “a year under a social democratic government: a review of the NDC administration”, maintains that the NDC and the John Dramani Mahama-led government, is doing everything to right the wrongs of the past NPP government.

According to the LGA, the return of John Mahama marked not only a triumph for the NDC but also a significant endorsement of social democracy and a clear rejection of property-owning democracy.

Full statement of the LGA in six points

Social democracy is the full extension of democratic principles to both society and the economy, to strengthen social and economic equality, and empower the working-class against the inequalities produced by capitalism. For social democratic governments throughout history and around the world, justice and equality for all people regardless of class, race, gender, religion and other forms of identity, as core principles of how they govern.

The Legal Green Association, as a centre-left Association, committed to good governance, accountability, environmental sustainability, and national development, joins the nation in reflecting on this important milestone under a social democratic government.

Cutting profligate expenditures

The NDC government has implemented stringent measures to reduce government spending over the past year. The following changes have been noted.

From 120 to 60 Ministers

President Mahama pledged to limit ministerial appointments to no more than 60 before the 2024 elections. Despite the NDC’s significant majority in parliament, the president has kept his word and currently maintains the 60 ministerial cap. This initiative is projected to save approximately GH300 million over the next three years..

No First-Class travel for official duties

In February 2025 President John Dramani Mahama instructed newly appointed ministers of state not to travel first class for official duties outside the country to help cut down on public expenditure and promote modest leadership.

Speaking at the 77th Annual New Year School conference at the University of Ghana, Legon, on Tuesday, January 6, the President shared a personal experience that demonstrated the enforcement of the policy.

Cancellation of fuel allocations for all political appointees

In June 2025, President John Dramani Mahama directed the immediate cancellation of fuel allowance and fuel allocations for all political appointees as part of stringent measures to reduce government expenditure. The Presidency indicated that leadership must lead by example in making sacrifices, especially as the government called on citizens to endure economic challenges. The scrapping of fuel benefits for appointees was expected to save millions of cedis annually, which would be reallocated to critical sectors such as education, health care and infrastructure.

 Alleviating the economic burden on the citizens of Ghana.

The NDC government has implemented numerous measures aimed at alleviating the economic pressure on the people of Ghana. The following measures have been noted; Repeal of e-Levy and other taxes

In April 2025, President John Dramani Mahama signed the bills repealing the e-levy, betting tax, and emissions levy. In 2024, the NPP Government generated GHS2 billion in revenue from the e-levy. By repealing the e-levy, the NDC Government has removed an estimated GHS2 billion in collective expenditures expected to be incurred by Ghanaians in 2025, thereby putting money back into the pockets of the people.

COVID-19 Levy Repeal

In December 2025, President John Dramani Mahama assented to the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy Repeal Act 2025. In 2024, GH¢2.94 billion in revenue was generated by the NPP government from the Covid-19 levy. With its repeal, an estimated GH¢2.94 billion in collective expenditures expected to be incurred by Ghanaians have been eliminated by the NDC Government.

VAT reforms

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has officially announced that the recent implementation of VAT reforms has resulted in a significant return of GH6.5 billion to households due to reduced prices.

Decrease in Fuel Prices Throughout the year 2025, there has been a consistent and notable decrease in fuel prices. As of January 7, 2025, the price of petrol per litre was recorded at GH?15.45. Fast forward to January 2026, the same petrol is now priced at GH¢10.99, resulting in savings of GH4.46 per litre on petrol

Reduced Interest on Loans

Recent data from the Bank of Ghana indicates that the average lending rate, which was at 30.25% in December 2024, has now dropped to 20%. Some banks are currently offering personal loans at 15%, a significant decrease from the previous rate of 27%. Reports from Graphic Online suggest that a renewed sense of optimism is emerging in the business sector, as positive macroeconomic indicators point towards a more favorable economic climate.

This is expected to lead to further reductions in lending rates for both businesses and households.

Economic Stability – Inflation

Ghana’s inflation rate decreased to 5.4% in December, marking the end of 2025 with a notable deceleration in price increases. In comparison, inflation stood at 23.8% in December 2024, reflecting a substantial drop of 18.4 percentage points over the course of a year.

Managing Public Resources and Assets for the Benefits of Ghanaians

Establishment of Goldbod

The GoldBod, established in March, has successfully generated revenue exceeding GH¢960 million in 2025 through the centralization of gold purchase and export, ensuring the repatriation of foreign currency earnings to Ghana.

The Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has lauded the Goldbod initiative as a transformative force for Ghana’s economy, emphasizing its pivotal role in stabilizing the cedi, enhancing foreign exchange inflows, and fostering the  creation of sustainable employment opportunities. The GoldBod model continues to attract interest from various African nations eager to glean insights from Ghana’s expertise in establishing and managing institutions that oversee gold trading and certification.

Resumption of Oil Refinery Operations at TOR

The Tema Oil Refinery was on the verge of being sold for US$22 million. Today, the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has successfully resumed crude oil refining operations after a prolonged period of inactivity, signifying a significant achievement in the revitalization of Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector and enhancement of national energy security.

The refinery is poised to reinstate its original nameplate capacity of 45,000 barrels per stream day (bpsd), with a well-defined strategic roadmap for capacity expansion to 60,000 bpsd in the medium term, following the installation of a new Air-Cooler.

5. Social Interventions and Maintenance

Free SHS policy Continuation

According to the President John Dramani Mahama, the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy has not only been preserved but significantly strengthened.

President Mahama revealed that a staggering GHS 3.5 billion has been dedicated to the Free SHS program this year, marking an unprecedented investment in Ghana’s education sector.

No Fees Stress Policy

The ‘No Fees Stress’ policy is a flagship, equity-based initiative aimed at eliminating financial barriers to tertiary education in Ghana. Aside from the No-Academic-Fees provision for first-year students, the “No Fees Stress” policy includes a restructured Student Loan Plus scheme for continuing students, and free tertiary education for persons with disability.

As of December 2025, a total of 152,698 students have received reimbursement of the first-year tertiary academic fees. Students at the Ghana School of law were recently added to the scheme. As of December 2025, GH10,854,589 was advanced to 521 students to pay their full academic fees at the Ghana School of Law

MahamaCare Trust Fund

The MahamaCare fund seeks to cover the cost of care and medication for NonCommunicable Diseases (NCDs) not currently included under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), thereby complementing it by supporting critical aspects of these conditions. Additionally, the Fund will invest in health infrastructure, medical equipment, specialist training, and research to enhance access to quality healthcare.

The launch of the free sanitary pad initiative

President John Dramani Mahama launched the Free Sanitary Pad Distribution Programme to promote gender equality and improve school attendance among girls. The initiative will provide free sanitary pads to girls from Primary 5 through senior high school nationwide.

 Infrastructure Development

In October 2025, President John Dramani Mahama launched the Ghana Infrastructure Plan. President Mahama disclosed that GH¢13.9 billion had already been allocated to the Big Push, with an additional GH¢30 billion to be provided in 2026 to cover health, education, agriculture, agribusiness and sports.

According to the President, the whole of Ghana is going to be a construction site for the next two years.

It is evident that Ghana thrives under a social democratic leadership. The Legal Green Association therefore urges the President to maintain a strong focus on social democratic values.

Ghana is steadily moving forward. The indications of growth, stability, and a renewed sense of confidence are obvious. Now is not the time to hope for failure, but to back progress, demand responsibility, and prioritize Ghana over political agendas.

As a nation, we must remain hopeful, vigilant, and united as Ghana continues its journey toward prosperity, dignity, and sustainable development. The Legal Green Association remains committed to constructive engagement in building a Ghana we can all be proud of at home and abroad.

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