President John Mahama’s government faces a deepening credibility crisis just six months into office, a new IMANI PULSE report warns. What began as a promise of renewal has soured into accusations of hypocrisy, selective justice, and politically motivated purges.
The turning point, according to IMANI, was the mass dismissal of public sector workers in March. While the government defended the move as a “clean-up,” the scale and timing sparked fears of political witch-hunts.
Social media branded Mahama “Terminator 1,” a nickname that quickly became a symbol of disillusionment.
At the same time, the government’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) — launched as a flagship anti-corruption drive — was undermined by inconsistencies.
While cases involving prominent NDC figures such as Collins Dauda, Stephen Opuni, Ato Forson, and Kwabena Duffuor were quietly dropped, arrests of outspoken NPP critics intensified.
Many of these arrests, IMANI observed, were carried out in militarized “Rambo-style” fashion, often with vague charges like “offensive conduct.” Public sentiment around the arrests was overwhelmingly negative, hitting 85 percent disapproval.
The credibility problem deepened further with the private jet scandal, which undercut earlier austerity pledges like scaling down Independence Day celebrations.
“The opposition successfully amplified the hypocrisy narrative,” IMANI noted, warning that even NDC loyalists are beginning to express disappointment.
The report concludes that unless the administration reforms its approach to accountability and avoids partisan enforcement of justice, it risks cementing a reputation for selective governance rather than renewal.
