President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned Ghanaians to prepare for a challenging year ahead, warning that 2026 will test the nation’s resolve, patience and discipline, even as he pledged that development and progress would reach every corner of the country.
Speaking at a non-denominational thanksgiving service to mark his first year in office, President Mahama said the coming year would require collective sacrifice but would also present opportunities to deepen reforms and accelerate national growth.
“The year ahead will demand even more from us. It will test our resolve, our patience, and our discipline,” the President said. “But it will also offer us opportunities, opportunities to deepen the reforms we have started, to accelerate our growth, and to ensure that development and progress touches every part of our country.”
The service, held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, brought together traditional leaders, clergy, members of the diplomatic corps, parliamentarians and the judiciary, as the President reflected on what he described as a year of difficult but necessary decisions.
Foundations Laid for Sustainable Progress
President Mahama acknowledged that the impact of his administration’s efforts may not yet be fully visible to many citizens but stressed that the groundwork laid over the past year was essential for long-term and sustainable development.
He highlighted economic stabilisation, institutional reform, social protection, and the restoration of domestic and international confidence as key priorities pursued by his government since taking office.
“The work we have begun is far from finished, but today reminds us that progress is not measured only by numbers, charts and diagrams,” he said. “It is also measured by hope that is restored, by trust that is rebuilt, and by the correct direction that is regained.”
Commitment to Ethical Leadership
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ethical leadership, governance anchored in integrity, competence and compassion, and service above self. He pledged to continue listening to the vulnerable, the youth, and those who feel excluded from national development.
Describing leadership as a form of stewardship, President Mahama noted that power and authority are “temporary and fleeting,” emphasizing that leadership is a trust held on behalf of the people.
Praise for Vice President Opoku-Agyemang
President Mahama reserved special praise for Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, describing her as “a woman of dignity and quiet strength” and the first woman to rise to such a high level of responsibility in Ghana’s history.
“I could not have wished for a better assistant to help me bear the heavy load Ghanaians have entrusted to me,” he said.
Call for Unity and Shared Sacrifice
Thanking Ghanaians for their trust, constructive criticism and encouragement, the President described the past year as one of shared sacrifice and patience. He urged the nation to move forward with humility, empathy and courage, stressing that Ghana’s strength has always lain in unity and collective purpose.
“May the year ahead bring renewed strength to our nation, wisdom to our leaders, peace to our communities, and hope to every Ghanaian home,” President Mahama said in closing.
The address comes at a critical moment as the government prepares to intensify reforms aimed at stabilising the economy and delivering inclusive development amid lingering global and domestic pressures.
