{
  "id": 16294857,
  "title": "The next president Ghana needs after this sham reset",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/the-next-president-ghana-needs-after-this-sham-reset",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-24T06:57:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/the-next-president-ghana-needs-after-this-sham-reset/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ghana finds itself at a crossroads once more, following a similar pattern of grand promises and empty slogans. A government has come into power, proclaiming a \"reset,\" but what exactly has been reset? The price of kenkey, the value of the cedi, and the attitude of those in authority remain unchanged. Only the bank accounts of loyalists have been \"reset.\" The evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa has shed light on the reality of this situation. A staggering GH¢49.72 million was spent on this evacuation, with a single man receiving GH¢5,000 for the loss of a shop he had built for ten years. A Foreign Minister even told American citizens, \"We will forgive them\" for losing everything. This is not a reset, but rather a sham, a false promise dressed up in new packaging. It is time for Ghana's next conversation to focus not on the ongoing political battle between the NDC and NPP, but rather on the character of those running for office.\n\nThe ideal candidate for the presidency must possess three essential qualities that the current administration sorely lacks. First and foremost, they must demonstrate good character over good English. It is not enough for a President to speak eloquently in international forums while insulting citizens back home. A true leader understands that public office is not a chiefdom, but a position of service to the people. For example, a Ghanaian who lost his livelihood in South Africa should not be treated as a beggar to be forgiven, but as a citizen to be restored. Good character also means speaking the truth upfront, rather than attempting to cover up mistakes later. It means not hiding the fact that private businessmen paid GH¢16 million for a state evacuation and not referring to GH¢5,000 as an achievement.\n\nSecondly, the next President must have the courage to prioritize merit over loyalty. The current stagnation in Ghana's development is not due to a lack of ideas, but rather to a preference for loyalty over competence. Both the NPP and NDC engage in this practice. They claim to advocate for protocol when in opposition, but when in power, they violate it even more severely. One competent director was sacked for being appointed by the opposition party and replaced by a loyal youth organizer who lacks the necessary skills to manage a district budget. The next President must be willing to keep competent individuals in their positions, even if they belong to the opposition party, and remove incompetent loyalists, regardless of how long they have supported the current government. In matters of life and death, such as heart surgery, we choose the most competent surgeon, not the most loyal one. Why then do we entrust the heart of Ghana to loyalists?\n\nLastly, the next President must be a unifier, not a divider. The current political environment is characterized by divisiveness, with people being pitted against each other as \"us versus them.\" Complaints about small amounts, such as GH¢5,000, are dismissed as ungratefulness, while calls for accountability and transparency are labeled as unpatriotic. A nation cannot prosper when half its population is treated as adversaries. The next President must bring us together as Ghanaians, regardless of our diverse ethnic backgrounds - Ewe, Akan, Dagomba, Ga, Frafra, and all others. We have all suffered the same economic hardships, and our country needs a leader who will represent all citizens equally. This next President should not be someone who offers forgiveness but rather someone who serves us with dedication and integrity. The sham reset will inevitably come to an end, as all such projects inevitably do. When it does, Ghana will require more than just another politician. We need a person of good character, prepared to take the necessary steps to achieve genuine progress, not for the sake of their party, but for the benefit of all Ghanaians.",
  "summary": "We have been here before. Big slogans. Big promises. A government comes in shouting \"Reset.\"",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}