President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to inclusive and balanced national development following a high-level engagement with the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.
The meeting, held during a courtesy call led by Nene Sakite II, provided a platform for the President to outline progress made in stabilising the economy and advancing key development initiatives.
President Mahama pointed to steady macroeconomic improvements, including declining inflation, a strengthening local currency, and Ghana’s ability to meet its debt obligations despite global economic pressures.
He also disclosed ongoing efforts to operationalise the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences (UEAS), alongside targeted investments in infrastructure, healthcare, and local governance.
A key highlight of the President’s address was the uncapping of the District Assembly Common Fund, a policy he said enables Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to retain up to 80 per cent of their allocations to drive development at the local level.
He noted that this would support initiatives such as the rollout of 24-hour economy markets across the country.
Despite the progress, President Mahama acknowledged that youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge, stressing the need to boost private sector growth, industrialisation, and agricultural expansion to create sustainable jobs.
On healthcare, he assured the chiefs of government’s commitment to completing the Eastern Regional Hospital project, while announcing plans to commence three additional hospital projects to improve access to quality healthcare nationwide.
The President further highlighted flagship interventions, including Free Primary Health Care and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares) as central to improving the wellbeing of citizens.
He expressed appreciation to traditional authorities for their continued support, emphasising that strong collaboration between government and chieftaincy institutions remains essential to achieving sustainable national development.
