Engineer and policy analyst Michael Kosi Dedey has criticized President John Dramani Mahama’s much-discussed 120-day pledge, branding the majority of the proposed commitments “largely symbolic and cosmetic.”
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily show on Wednesday, May 7, Dedey didn’t hold back in his assessment of the 26 promises Mahama listed as part of his early-day deliverables should he return to power.
“I think that we need to look at what the value is in the proposition before us in terms of the 24 items that were put to us, and when I went through them, only nine of them are worthy. The rest are largely symbolic and cosmetic,” Dedey said bluntly.
The 120-day plan, released to public interest and political fanfare, includes a range of initiatives spanning economic recovery, governance reforms, and support for marginalized groups, particularly women. But Dedey questioned not just the substance of the promises, but the lack of accountability attached to them.
“If you say you will appoint your ministers in a short time, really, what is the value to us? You have been given a mandate to run a country, so there are things you need to do. If these 26 items are not done, really, what is the replication? Is there any punishment? Nothing. So for me, a lot of them are cosmetic, not much value to it,” he added.
One of the more debated items on Mahama’s list is the creation of a specialized bank for women — a move Dedey finds unnecessary and bureaucratic.
“I do not think it’s of any value. There are already existing banks. If you think that women are disadvantaged in terms of loans, you simply issue some direction to the Bank of Ghana for women to be given the preference that is required. The idea of creating a specialized Women’s Bank is completely unnecessary,” he argued.
