PROMISE METER: Fact-checking President John Mahama’s 90-day promises in 120-day social contract

In the run-up to the 2024 general elections, President John Dramani Mahama, beyond the 200-page manifesto, shared a 120-day social contract document in which he pledged to deliver several interventions within his first four months as president. 

April 7, 2025, marks the 90th day of his administration, and as part of our PROMISE METER project at GhanaFact, we investigate the progress made with his 90-day promises.

We have previously fact-checked his promise about forming his cabinet within his first 14 days. On February 11, 2025, the president inaugurated a task force led by Dr, Valerie Sawyer to oversee the implementation of the 120-day social contract.

Promise 1

“Within my first 90 days in office, scrap the following draconian taxes to alleviate hardships and ease the high cost of doing business: E-levy, COVID levy, 10% levy on bet winnings, and Emissions levy.”

Fact-Check

In the 2025 budget presented on March 11, 2025, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson announced plans to abolish the 10% betting tax, the 1% E-Levy, and the Emission Levy on industries and vehicles.

On March 13, 2025, the Minister laid the bill to remove the three tax handles before the Parliament of Ghana, which was approved the same day. Subsequently, on April 2, 2025, three of the taxes were fully abolished when President Mahama assented to their amendments.

“President Mahama has this morning assented to the Bills scrapping the E-Levy, Betting Tax and Emissions Levy. He also assented to Bills that will uncap GETFund, NHIL and Road Fund. Promise made, promise kept,” a post by the government spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu said. 

The case of COVID Levy

While three tax handles have been abolished, the COVID levy passed in 2021 remains, pending the rationalisation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime. 

In the 2025 budget presentation, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson indicated it would be scrapped in due course. “Mr. Speaker, the parameters for the VAT reforms will include: i. abolishing the COVID-19 Levy,” the minister said. 

Although the budget indicated that this levy would be scrapped, it has been tied with a review of the VAT system as a whole. The promise to abolish it in 90 days has therefore been missed.

Verdict

The promise is partially achieved since one of the taxes (COVID-19 levy) has not been abolished.

Promise 2

“Within my first 90 days in office, review taxes and levies on vehicles and equipment imported into the country for industrial and agricultural purposes.”

Fact-check

There was no mention of plans to implement this promise in the 2025 budget presented by the Finance Minister.

April 7, 2025, marks the 90th day, and the government has not announced a review of taxes and levies on vehicles and equipment imported into the country for industrial and agricultural purposes.

Therefore, this promise to be carried out within 90 days is unfulfilled.

Verdict

The team rates this as a PROMISE BROKEN

Promise 3

“Constitute the LEANEST AND MOST EFFICIENT government under the fourth republic in my first 90 days in office.”

Fact-Check

As of April 7, 2025, the president still has some key appointments to make aside his fully formed cabinet. Some State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are yet to have their heads appointed. There are also ambassadorial positions to be filled as well as the formation of boards of SoEs which are all the preserve of the president. This promise remains a work in progress given the positions that are yet to be filled.

The 90-day promise to constitute the government has not been fulfilled. The leanest and efficient component can also be fully assessed only after the government is fully formed. 

Verdict

The team rates this as  IN THE WORKS

Which other promises in the 120-day social contract have been fulfilled with a month to the deadline?

By Nusrat Essah