January 7, 2025, saw the inauguration of the 6th President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. The swearing-in of President John Mahama and Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang was historic for two key reasons: it marked the first time a former President of Ghana was sworn in again, and it was also the first time a female Vice President was sworn in.

The symbolism of the event, reflected through the set-up, organisation, the type and number of invited dignitaries, including Former President John Kufuor, Immediate Past President Nana Akufo-Addo, and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as well as President Mahama’s inaugural speech, conveyed themes of national unity, regional integration, and restoration.

What stood out to me was the outfit President Mahama chose to wear. He was clad in a three-piece white Agbada (Kaftan) with Kente stripes on the sides and a matching Kente-designed cap. Embossed on the Agbada were four Adinkra symbols: Nyamedua, Sankɔfa, Dwennimmen, and Gye Nyame.

Nyamedua, meaning "Tree of God", symbolises God's presence and protection. The Sankɔfa symbol represents the idea of learning from the past. Sankɔfa is often depicted as a mythical bird flying forward while looking back, suggesting that revisiting what has been forgotten is not morally wrong. Sankɔfa encourages the retrieval of valuable lessons from the past to guide future progress.

Some scholars, like Camila Kong, believe the Sankɔfa philosophy should underpin efforts towards societal renewal and restoration. Kong further suggests "Critical Sankofa" as a conceptual framework that involves reflecting, sifting through, and refining aspects of the cultural past to determine their relevance in contemporary society. Perhaps President Mahama was assuring Ghanaians that his return to the highest office is a decision not to be regretted.

The Dwennimmen symbol represents humility, strength, and the importance of power tempered by wisdom. Gye Nyame is a symbol of God’s omnipotence and power over mortals. It inspires people to pursue greater goods for themselves and their communities without fear of arbitrary human power. Aware of the arduous task ahead, President Mahama might have used the symbolism of Gye Nyame to convey that with God’s help, it is still possible to reset the country.

Altogether, these four Adinkra symbols seem to articulate the President’s vision of renewal, restoration, and a reset that will be achieved by harnessing the strengths of Ghanaians. As a Christian, the President, through Nyamedua and Gye Nyame, affirms his deep faith in God to realise a vision of renewal, rooted in humble service to the people and to God.

In his inaugural speech, President Mahama unveiled four pillars for resetting the nation: economic restoration and stabilisation, improving the business and investment environment, constitutional review, and the fight for accountability and against corruption. He also promised an administration focused on inclusivity, accountability, and innovation.

The President's speech has been met with mixed reactions. While some have praised it, others have pointed out that Ghanaians are accustomed to such eloquent speeches at presidential inaugurations – speeches that often bear little relation to the realities that follow.

Some have also suggested that a rethink of the country’s political system is necessary, as it may be hindering the realisation of the lofty visions typically outlined in presidential inaugurations. I share, to some extent, the views expressed in the commentaries on the President’s speech. The remainder of this piece will focus on my perspective on the need to rethink our politics.

I must first admit that, although I was a science student in secondary school, my interest and passion for how our country is governed led me to pursue political science at the University of Ghana, Legon, more than 20 years ago. I was fortunate to be taught by the esteemed Professor Joseph Atsu Aryee in POLI 101: Introduction to Politics. Among the various definitions of politics we studied, the one by Canadian-American political scientist David Easton stood out to me.

Easton defined politics as the authoritative allocation of values for society. Politics, according to Easton, involves actions we take to have our values prioritised, where values can be anything of worth to us. Easton also viewed the political process as a system where each action taken affects other systems, including people’s lives. Central to the political system, he argued, is human behaviour, as humans are the main actors in the political process.

It is worth noting that individual actions and behaviours in politics affect not only other people but also the very institutions that sustain human life and society. From Easton’s perspective on politics, it is crucial that we constantly interrogate our values, the actions we undertake to prioritise these values, and the consequences of these actions on others and our institutions.

Politics, as described through these considerations, can be seen as ‘conscientious politics’. In his victory speech as the newly elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer described politics as "a cause for good," reiterating the value of conscientious politics – politics driven by worthy values and actions that are sensitive to and impactful on others and society as a whole.

Politics in Ghana has come a long way since the pre-colonial period. Since we embraced democracy, we have periodically changed governments, including the most recent government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. But this raises the question: Has Ghana seen significant democratic dividends that have improved the lives of the majority of its citizens?

Our politics has often resulted in a few people becoming wealthier, while the majority of the population remains impoverished. Perhaps we find ourselves in this situation because the values driving our politics are misguided. The actions we take to prioritise these values may often be selfish.

The few who seek to amass wealth through politics at the expense of the majority attempt to perpetuate this system by undermining fellow citizens and the very institutions that should regulate our collective behaviour. Our politics has become a haven for those who, by their nature, perpetuate social vices. The destruction of arable lands and water bodies through illegal mining (Galamsey) and the billions of Ghana cedis lost annually to corruption are grim reminders of how politics is increasingly becoming a bane rather than a blessing. Those who stand against such anti-social practices often suffer grave consequences, while society watches on with careless indifference.

This status quo needs to be urgently addressed through a reset of our value system. Otherwise, we will continue to change governments while becoming increasingly impoverished, as a few individuals grow wealthier and more ruthless with political power. This reset is possible through a conscious and well-designed value re-orientation process that should permeate every level of our society: families, schools, the media, workplaces, communities, and both private and government institutions.

A value re-orientation must change how people are elected at all levels. Effective reward and punishment systems are essential for sustaining the gains from such a process. We must make it easier for citizens to report politicians and individuals who undermine the political system and the state. When people are rewarded for pursuing good causes in the interest of the larger polity, and others are swiftly punished for anti-social behaviours regardless of their social status, politics will bring out the best in every Ghanaian. We should treat criminal behaviour as such, without giving it political colouration, or else criminally-minded individuals will use politics to justify their actions.

As President Mahama seeks a reset, I strongly call for the empowerment of our state institutions, particularly the police and the judiciary, to swiftly arrest, prosecute, and convict those engaging in wrongdoing. Effective policing can yield greater dividends for society. The impunity with which some individuals pursue wrongful deeds stems from the belief that the police and legal system can be compromised – a belief often acted upon without regard for the consequences to others.

Recent research I conducted with colleagues shows a strong link between people’s mental health and their perception of corruption. When an opportunity presents itself for people to commit wrongs, either in or out of politics, it is important for them to always consider the consequences of their actions on others and the state as a whole. I therefore urge my fellow Ghanaians to always treat others as they would like to be treated themselves. Political power is transient, as we have recently witnessed. As the saying goes about the wheels of justice: "It may turn slowly, but it will grind exceedingly fine."

For effective delivery of President Mahama’s mandate, I suggest avoiding what I call carte blanche appointments. Instead, I propose the careful selection of individuals who possess the requisite expertise and are role models to the youth. When this is done, the youth will see such appointments as honours derived from worthy service to God and country. Perception matters greatly in politics, so it is crucial for our new leaders to understand that an appointee’s misconduct in any public office, and how that misconduct is handled by the appointing authority, can significantly affect public perception of the entire government.

In the reset agenda, I humbly propose that individuals appointed by President Mahama submit a detailed mission and vision statement for the offices they are to occupy, undergo rigorous processes to justify their suitability, including mental health and integrity checks, and sign a one-year renewable contract tied to specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) aligned with the President's vision.

Although this proposal may be unpopular with ‘partisan political entrepreneurs’, I believe it will steer us onto the path of conscientious politics and national progress. This proposal will cure the entitlement mindset with which people enter public office, ensure effective service delivery, and ultimately improve public confidence in our politics.

I wish President John Mahama and Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang all the best. May God endow them with wisdom and courage to lead the reset agenda, and may He bless our homeland Ghana, making our nation great and strong.

The Author is Social and Community Psychologist Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology,
University of Ghana, Legon.

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The author is a Social and Community Psychologist and a Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology,
University of Ghana, Legon.