The hypocrisy of John Dramani Mahama and the NDC government has once again been laid bare. During his campaign, Mahama loudly criticized President Nana Akufo-Addo for running a bloated government, promising a lean and efficient administration. Yet, in just three months, Mahama is proving to be the biggest spender in Ghana’s history; hoarding billions at the Office of Government Machinery (OGM) while Ghanaians struggle with economic hardship.
GH¢40 Billion More in Spending: Where Is the Money Going?
The 2025 budget exposes Mahama’s shocking GH¢40 billion increase in government expenditure. What happened to the Mahama who claimed he would cut waste and spend wisely? Instead, his administration is concentrating massive amounts of taxpayer money at the presidency while refusing to invest in jobs, infrastructure, and social welfare.
The Office of Government Machinery: A Money-Sucking Black Hole
Under Mahama’s budget, the Office of Government Machinery (OGM) alone has been allocated a staggering GH¢4.12 billion, the highest in Ghana’s history.
Category Amount (GH¢)
Compensation of Employees 2,711,100,839
Goods and Services 847,964,846
Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) 269,755,853
Sub-Total (OGM) 3,828,821,538
National Security (under OGM) 649,755,853
Government Communication 78,803,815
Research Department 70,000,000
Total OGM Allocation GH¢ 4.12 Billion
This is an outrageous amount of money being pumped into the presidency while ordinary Ghanaians face high unemployment, rising inflation, and worsening living conditions.
A History of Overspending at the Presidency: Will It Happen Again?
Mahama’s first presidency (2012-2016) proved that he cannot be trusted to stick to a budget. His government exceeded its OGM allocations every single year, recklessly overspending billions of cedis:
• 2013: GH¢312 million allocated but overspent massively (exact amount hidden).
• 2014: GH¢326.8 million allocated, but spent GH¢1.15 billion, overspending by 253.7%.
• 2015: GH¢453.8 million allocated, but spent GH¢799.7 million, overspending by 76.2%.
• 2016: GH¢718.8 million allocated, continuing the trend of excessive spending.
If Mahama’s history repeats itself, the GH¢4.12 billion allocated to OGM in 2025 will explode beyond control, likely exceeding GH¢10 billion, money that should have gone into hiring teachers, doctors, police officers, and improving infrastructure.
Mahama’s Bloated Government: The Real “State Capture”
During the campaign, Mahama deceived Ghanaians, claiming he would reduce waste and cut government spending. Instead, we are witnessing:
• More money sitting at the presidency instead of being used to hire nurses, teachers, and police officers.
• More luxury for government officials while citizens struggle with high costs of living.
• More reckless spending, with no clear plan to reduce Ghana’s debt burden.
If Mahama truly wanted to reduce government waste, why is his own presidency sitting on GH¢4.12 billion while the youth remain unemployed? Why is so much money being hoarded at the Jubilee House(Rumoured to be flag staff house soon) instead of being used to pay struggling pharmacists, nurses, and teachers?
Ghanaians, Be Warned: The Signs Are Clear
If Mahama’s government has started this badly in just three months, imagine where Ghana will be in four years. This bloated presidency will become a bottomless pit of corruption, waste, and mismanagement.
Ghanaians must not be deceived again. This is not the “new Mahama” he tried to sell during the campaign. This is the same old Mahama, a leader who recklessly overspends, mismanages resources, and then blames others for his failures.
We must demand accountability. We must resist wasteful spending. And we must fight for a government that works for the people-not just for those at the top.
