To be in power or opposition, and to have experienced real-time power before, are two distinct things. Persons or groups in power are typically blinded to the realities on the ground due to the associated comforts, unless they are devoted to strictly following the pattern that was used to usher them into power. Flipping the coin, observe the opposition boosting their game, who are on their feet and frequently in sync with the population on everyday events to gain populace sympathies and pledge to stay by their side through thick and thin.
Justice William Atuguba (Rtd), a distinguished Supreme Court Judge, stated unequivocally on JoyNews that the NDC and its government are "careless". He made this comment after the government switched from prose to poetry recital, and I wish you will watch the interview. Again, Captain Kojo Smart, the host of Onua TV's Maakye, claims that the JDM government is weak as a result of the seeming sluggishness and unwillingness in bringing ORAL to reality. Both chronicled scandals upon scandals that are regarded as corruption and corruption-related offences, starting from the National Cathedral, Sky Train, Pwalugu Dam, Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac), ECG Bank Guarantee, EC and two deputies' malfeasance, and the Supreme Court's unanimous FC, and the list goes on, but the government's approach to confronting these squarely is described as careless and weak.
Again, polls and street sentiment have been trending downward for incumbent governments across West Africa when the cost of living bites. When people feel “poetry instead of prose” from leadership, it usually means big promises but thin delivery. That gap is what opposition parties like the NPP historically exploit. That does not mean the government did not chalked milestone successes since December 7, 2025. It has, especially in the economic fronts, but to see alleged looters of the public purse still loitering around without being prosecuted is a red flag in toto.
This change in government style has sparked rising disenchantment among the populace, potentially leading to significant machinations in voter sentiment as the December 2028 elections approach. Mind you, the major opposition party is capitalising on these sentiments, and the current administration may need to reevaluate its techniques for recovering public trust and resolving the concerns raised anytime soon. The NDC government is forgetting that people in this region of the world have short memories.
Though Nana Addo's economic crunch is still fresh, memories will fade without consequence. If evidence is to be believed, the swings in the polls in 2016, 2020, and 2024 demonstrated how rapidly anger at one administration can turn into nostalgia for it whenever the following one encounters turbulence. Believe you and me, citizens will soon forget the past excruciating pains experienced under Nana Addo, and it will boomerang at us.
I refer to this as the NDC government's 'Eucharist-eating' approach to governing, which is a sign of a slow decline in popularity that is self-inflicted. Both Atugiba and Captain Smart's views suggest that the NDC is being too gentle on its own. In government, perceived leniency toward corruption or negligence cuts both ways. It maintains internal harmony while signalling to the public that regulations do not apply to insiders. A party that understands where they were in opposition and what brought them to power, but then decides to be christened as the holy one without consulting voters? The voters' interest is not in the power struggle between the AG and the OSP, but in seeing what was promised accomplished.
As things stand, most grassroots members are perplexed by the CJ's failure to find a prima facie case against EC Bose and her two deputies. To make matters worse, the Ashanti region's GRICO CEO situation is beyond comprehension. If misbehaviour is established with the latter, prosecuting versus simply stepping aside sends completely different nuances. Stepping aside is supposed to safeguard the CEO and, in some cases, the party brand, but it feeds the "culture of negligence," and citizens interpret it as "break the rules, just leave the post." That corrodes deterrence.
Another unusual and puzzling occurrence is the Ghana Link/ICUMS system, which included AI modules for value and risk, which was implemented to reduce interpersonal interactions and accelerate clearance. The most recent improvements revealed mixed feelings: although some importers reported speedier processing, others said manual overrides and network issues continued to create bottlenecks. AI forecasts duty but cannot regulate shipping lines' fees, demurrage, or currency rate implications, making freight charges a source of frustration. So the technology exists, but "tangible improvements" rely on enforcement and interaction with GRA, shipping lines, and agents. The system became "initiatives on paper" as there was no accountability for sabotage or workarounds, which I strongly doubt because saboteurs are being allowed to continue to stay in.
Recall that residents have previously pleaded for their voices to be heard on matters such as E-levy, National Cathedral, New Chamber, Ghana's request for a US military base, and others, but the head-locked former administration has continued to implement them, squashing residents' pleas. Some of them experienced a ferocious response that was too powerful to resist. Nothing precludes this government from doing what it sees fit to restore the country to its solid footings, and kowtowing to the opposition's whims is a headache. Remember that a little period of serenity can lead to long-term decay. True deterrence requires apparent consequences, not quiet exits. Otherwise AI, digitisation, or any reform becomes a circus display.
Nonetheless, much as certain truths about governance or even culture and our own communities are not documented in reports, but not here. They exist in silence, gestures, and unfinished business. The acknowledged facade will remain intact since explanation would break the spell, and once named, people must deal with it. So it remains a feeling, a rumour, a "we all know but won't say" statement. Apprise yourselves with the consequences because we are building a country.
The instant secret knowledge begins to come out in unanticipated ways, the veneer fractures. An escape that raises new questions. An AI system that performs well on paper but fails at the ports. A CEO requested to "step aside for his own good." Each is a thread. Pull enough, and the entire cloth unravels.
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