President John Dramani Mahama has highlighted significant gains in employment and poverty reduction during his 2026 State of the Nation Address delivered to Parliament today, Friday, February 27.
Citing official data from the Ghana Statistical Service, the President revealed that more than 1 million Ghanaians secured jobs between the first and third quarters of 2025. In the same period, approximately 950,000 people exited multidimensional poverty, reflecting measurable progress in living standards and economic participation.
“According to the Ghana Statistical Service, over 1 million Ghanaians have found employment between quarter one and quarter three of 2025. About 950,000 have escaped multidimensional poverty over the same period,” President Mahama stated.
He described these improvements as clear evidence that the economy is “gaining strength and resilience on the global stage” and signalled a shift “from planning to action” on the flagship 24-hour economy policy.
Strong External Sector Performance
The President also reported a remarkable turnaround in Ghana’s external accounts. By December 2025, the current account recorded a surplus of $9.1 billion — equivalent to 8.1% of GDP — a sharp improvement from 1.8% of GDP in 2024.
He attributed this positive shift to:
- Robust export performance in gold, cocoa, and non-traditional exports
- Increased remittance inflows from the Ghanaian diaspora
- Prudent management of foreign exchange and trade policies
President Mahama described the surplus as a key indicator of renewed economic stability and confidence, providing a stronger buffer against external shocks.
The address is widely seen as an opportunity for the government to outline its midterm progress, defend recent policy decisions (including cocoa price adjustments and economic reforms), and set the legislative and budgetary tone for the remainder of 2026.
Key opposition figures, including Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, are expected to respond during parliamentary debate, with particular scrutiny likely on job quality, poverty metrics, sustainability of gains, and the pace of structural reforms.
The full text and video of the 2026 State of the Nation Address are being broadcast live across major television and radio networks, with detailed breakdowns and reactions expected throughout the day.
