President Mahama Warns Ministers: “You Were Not Appointed to Occupy Space”
If anyone in President John Dramani Mahama’s cabinet thought they were settling into a comfortable political ride, they were reminded otherwise — in no uncertain terms.
At the opening of a four-day Executive Leadership Programme on April 24, 2025, the president sent a sharp message to his ministerial appointees: deliver or make way for someone who will. In Mahama’s words, the days of business-as-usual are over.
“You were not appointed to occupy space,” he told a room of newly appointed officials and senior figures.
“You were appointed to solve problems. The Ghanaian people expect us to deliver — not with excuses, but with results.”
High Expectations, Zero Tolerance for Failure
The event, held in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, is the first ministerial retreat of Mahama’s new administration. But it’s clear the president views it as more than just a warm-up. For him, it’s a mindset shift.
He called the retreat a launchpad for reshaping governance — not just a formality.
“The business-as-usual approach will not work,” Mahama said bluntly.
“Indeed, it is dead, and we must bury it once and for all.”
He framed the gathering as a moment to align on values, not just policies — a warning shot to those thinking leadership was merely about titles and press conferences.
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“We’re not here simply to orient ministers,” he said. “We’re here to shape a collective mindset.”
Pressure from Below: The Public Is Watching
President Mahama didn’t mince words when it came to the pressure the administration is under from ordinary Ghanaians. He called out the real-world consequences of failed governance — a reality felt daily by farmers, workers, students, and small business owners.
“Our young people are tired of waiting interminably,” he said.
“Our farmers, our workers, our entrepreneurs… want to live in dignity and prosperity.”
<p”>The president emphasized that every appointee must understand the urgency of the moment.
“Please remember, when any of us fall short, I will not hesitate to act.”
No Safety Nets, Just Expectations
The message from Jubilee House is loud and clear: appointments are not entitlements. They come with weight — and Mahama is ready to hold the scale. In a political climate where public trust is fragile, he’s banking on performance to restore it.
This retreat marks the beginning of that effort. Ministers now know what’s expected. More importantly, they know the cost of falling short.
President Mahama warns ministers because he probably doesn’t want to disappoint Ghanaians again. He doesn’t want what happened in his first term of office to repeat itself.
CelebritiesBuzzGh / President Mahama Warns Ministers: Perform or Step Aside
