Congratulations on your first year in office – Bawumia tells Mahama

Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has commended President John Dramani Mahama on the completion of his first year in office, urging him to treat the mandate of the Ghanaian people as a solemn responsibility.

In a New Year message, Dr. Bawumia said he wished the President success in his leadership and called on him to place national peace, stability and unity at the centre of his governance. He warned that Ghana must remain vigilant in protecting its democratic credentials, particularly in a sub-region frequently affected by political and security instability.

“I congratulate President John Dramani Mahama on his first year in office and I sincerely wish him well in the discharge of his mandate. The Ghanaian people have bestowed a sacred trust on him, and he cannot afford to fail them. I therefore urge him to continue to guard jealousy, the peace, stability and unity of our nation," he said.

According to Dr. Bawumia, the Mahama administration assumed office with a strong national foundation and must work to preserve and strengthen it rather than allow existing gains to decline. He expressed concern over signs of emerging insecurity and stressed the need for decisive action to address them.

He cited the 2025 Global Peace Index, which ranked Ghana 60th worldwide and seventh in Sub-Saharan Africa, representing a drop from previous positions. Dr. Bawumia said the fall highlights growing security concerns and isolated incidents of unrest that could threaten national cohesion if left unaddressed.

He emphasised that maintaining peace and unity is essential to Ghana’s democratic stability and long-term development.
“Ghana has always stood out as a beacon in a region that has seen too much turmoil and instability. The foundation President Mahama inherited was solid in many ways. It is imperative that we build on it and not let it slip. I say this because this matters more now than ever. You may have heard about the results of the 2025 Global Peace Index. Ghana has dropped 6 places to 60 first in the world and from 4th to 7th in Sub-Saharan Africa. They point to growing security worries and pockets of unrest in the country,” he said.