A report by the British newspaper The Telegraph has suggested that investor confidence in Ghana is declining under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, citing growing concerns about judicial independence, political persecution, and erosion of the rule of law.
The article, titled “Why is Britain funding Ghana’s Leftist, Russia-sympathizing government?” and authored by Mat Whatley, Managing Director of Okapi Train, argues that Ghana’s governance direction since Mahama’s return to power in January has taken what he describes as a “far-Leftward, anti-democratic turn.”
Whatley, a security expert who has managed operations in Nigeria, Libya, and elsewhere in Africa, contends that “President John Dramani Mahama has wielded lawfare against his political opponents and bent the law to protect his own.”
Judicial Manipulation, Political Targeting
In his Telegraph publication, Whatley alleges that Mahama’s administration has interfered with the judiciary to consolidate political control, claiming that “the chief justice of the Supreme Court was dismissed based on a ‘petition’ that was never made public; half a dozen more compliant justices have since been appointed to the same bench.”
He further noted that “scores of legal cases against members of the president’s own party, many related to serious fraud and a major banking collapse, have been dropped.”
According to Whatley, this politicization of the legal system has raised red flags among investors and financial partners in the West, who now question Ghana’s commitment to due process and judicial transparency.
Waning Rule of Law and Business Climate
The Telegraph writer describes the ongoing prosecution threats against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta as a significant turning point in Ghana’s investment reputation.
Whatley writes that “it is questionable whether the rule of law is still functioning when such a stark case of political persecution is unfolding – and whether international businesses can still rely on the legal security of their investments in Ghana.”
He adds that the manner in which state institutions have handled Ofori-Atta’s case — including what he calls “unsubstantiated accusations” and “procedural irregularities” — has sent worrying signals to foreign investors who once viewed Ghana as a stable and predictable investment destination.
Implications for International Partnerships
Whatley’s analysis also raises concerns about the future of Ghana’s economic relationship with Britain and other Western countries. He questions the rationale behind British aid and debt assistance to Ghana, arguing that such support may no longer be justified in light of the current governance environment.
“Every British government should, of course, support British businesses working abroad,” he writes, “but there are simple calculations. Is there the rule of law? Is the legal system sufficiently independent? What are the chances of getting the money back? The answers are obvious.”
He adds that “Ghana under Mahama is a bad port of call for Britain’s global re-engagement policy,” suggesting that the perceived politicization of justice and suppression of opposition voices are eroding international confidence in the country’s economic governance.
