CDM: Insecurity, Selective Justice Undermine Trust (Mahama’s First Year Marked by Missed Opportunities)
The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) says that one year into President John Dramani Mahama’s presidency, public trust in government has dropped significantly because of ongoing insecurity and what they call “selective accountability.” The group pointed to the long-running conflict in Bawku as a clear example of how the government can’t keep people safe. Violence has happened there repeatedly, killing people, forcing them to leave their homes, and destroying property.
In its January 2026 report, CDM said that the situation was both a constitutional and legal failure. It said that the ongoing instability shows how weak the enforcement of state authority and the protection of basic rights are. It stressed that “the ongoing insecurity in Bawku is not only a humanitarian issue, but also a constitutional and legal challenge that needs immediate and ongoing action from the state,” in line with Ghana’s obligations under the 1992 Constitution and relevant international human rights law.
The group also criticized the frequent use of nolle prosequi and the selective dropping of high-profile criminal cases, saying that these actions make people think that the law is not being enforced and erode public trust in the rule of law. CDM said that the president’s first year in office has mostly been marked by missed opportunities, even though they did note some positive changes, such as the relative stability of the exchange rate and efforts to encourage national dialogue. So, it called for a policy reset that puts the safety, justice, and economic well-being of regular Ghanaians at the center of government.
