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President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has outlined his top priorities upon assuming office on January 7.
High on the agenda will be the work of the Constitutional Review Committee’s report.
The President-elect also highlighted the need to address the Bawku conflict, which has been fuelled by border attacks.
"Bawku is particularly an area to look at because of border attacks. As soon as quickly we will tackle the Bawku issues head-on. Nobody benefits from conflict," Mr Mahama said.
The President-elect made the remarks when he received two delegations in his private office in Accra yesterday.
One delegation came from the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) and another from some political parties.
Addressing the GPCC delegation, led by the Chairman of the GPCC, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Mr Mahama said addressing the committee's work would help resolve some pressing issues such as clarifying the role of the Speaker of Parliament.
That, the President-elect believes, will prevent future impasses such as those between the Speaker and the Supreme Court.
"One of the first things I want to do is to relook at the work of the Constitutional Review Committee," he said.
The President-elect plans to achieve this by hosting a national validation conference, where his government would reassess the committee's decisions and determine if any changes were still necessary.
Citing the role of the Speaker as an example, Mr Mahama said: "We will relook at things we flagged and if it still needs change, then we know really what the mandate of the Speaker is."
Mr Mahama emphasised the need to make crucial decisions to deliver on his “legacy term” as the country could not afford to lose the opportunity.
“This is a legacy term and I want to give our country my best so that we will reset and leave it for the others to continue,” he said.
Mr Mahama expressed the need to reform the electricity value chain, citing the importance of a reliable and efficient energy supply for the country's development.
In addition to energy reform, Mr Mahama outlined plans to revive the economy, which included rationalising taxes and promoting employment, particularly among the youth.
He emphasised that there was a limit to government employment, therefore, it was crucial to ensure a viable private sector that could provide the needed assistance.
“I have had people sending their CVs but I have told them it's not going to be a walk in the park. Some decisions will be harsh but it will be in the interest of the country,” he said.
Mr Mahama also reaffirmed his commitment to establish a Government Advisory Council, which would provide annual reports on the state of affairs and guide the government's direction.
The council's establishment, a campaign promise, was a move towards promoting better governance and combating corruption.
Mr Mahama said by fostering transparency and accountability in governance, the council will play a crucial role in restoring trust in governmental institutions, which has declined in recent years.
He said the establishment of the council was in line with the principles of good governance, which emphasised the importance of legitimacy, accountability and effectiveness in obtaining and using public power and resources.
He acknowledged that Ghanaians held the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to a higher standard due to its social democratic values.
The President-elect recognised that the world was looking up to Ghana, but stated that the country faced significant challenges, including a struggling economy and high unemployment.
He pledged to work tirelessly to address these challenges and restore hope.
For his part, Apostle Nyamekye urged President-elect Mahama to seize the opportunity and time he had to do good and move the nation forward.
He emphasised that experience alone was not enough, but rather he needed God's guidance to lead the country effectively.
Apostle Nyamekye also assured Mr Mahama that the GPCC was ready to support his presidency and help him achieve his goals.
He encouraged the President-elect to always do good as admonished by the Bible, and also use his experience and God's guidance to make informed decisions.
Addressing the delegation from three minority parties, Mr Mahama extended an invitation to them to contribute to the governance process and said that his doors were always open.
He stressed the need for collaboration and consensus-building in governance, adding that the consensus built by his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), after rejoining the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), paid off, as it contributed to a peaceful election.
"The consensus NDC built after coming back to IPAC paid off," Mr Mahama said. "The election was not perfect but it was peaceful," he added.
The delegation included Hassan Ayariga of the All People's Congress (APC), Bernard Mornah, and Sampson Asaki Awingobit of the People's National Convention (PNC), and the Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Jerry Addo.
Mr Mahama disclosed that he and the NDC approached the election with a strong mindset, citing the Azumah Nelson principle.
"We went into the election with the Azumah Nelson principle - that is, knocking out your opponent so no referee can say otherwise," he said.
The President-elect viewed the defeat of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a signal to all political elites not to take the electorate for granted, saying the incoming administration may be Ghana's last chance to get things right.
"The outgoing administration saw all the signs but decided to ignore them. It indicates that the power resides with the people," Mr Mahama said.
The President-elect pledged to restore trust in governmental institutions by being accountable to the people.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Mr Ayariga assured the President-elect of the APC's support and said the change must be for all Ghanaians and not just for members of any political party.
“The 2024 elections were not just won by the campaign of the NDC alone but by the displeasure of many Ghanaians who did not see leadership from the NPP and they have given the NDC a new life,” he said.
The APC leader said the President-elect must focus on his first three months in office and examine his policy alternatives.
He also urged Mr Mahama to work towards a change of public mindset as Ghanaians were looking for a leader “they can follow who is transparent and honest”.
