Accra: Mr Reindolph Afrifa-Oware, a political analyst, has expressed concern that the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SoNA) failed to address the growing inequality gap among Ghanaians. President John Dramani Mahama delivered the 2026 SoNA to Parliament on February 27, 2026, outlining key government interventions and strategies for the year.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Afrifa-Oware, who is also the Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs of the National Tenants Union of Ghana, remarked in an interview at Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Bono Region that while the nation's economic indicators appeared positive on paper, many Ghanaians continue to struggle with a high cost of living. He identified issues such as rent increases, food inflation, rising utility tariffs, youth unemployment, and the increasing cost of transport as manifestations of these struggles.
Mr Afrifa-Oware noted a growing emotional fatigue among ordinary Ghanaians, stating that although the SoNA projected stability, the reality on the streets was one of anxiety. He emphasized the need for economic growth figures and the expansion of the Gross Domestic Product to be matched with improvements in the quality of living, inclusiveness, and purchasing power.
He expressed concern over stagnant real wages, particularly for informal workers, who are vulnerable as rent consumes 40 to 60 percent of incomes in urban areas while youth unemployment remains structurally high. Mr Afrifa-Oware argued that economic growth which does not reduce inequality, stabilize housing, or improve disposable income for the poor results in theoretical rather than transformational growth.
Mr Afrifa-Oware highlighted ongoing frustrations among young graduates regarding underemployment, despite government claims of providing one million jobs. He also raised concerns about housing affordability being out of reach for many working youths and questioned the government's decision to let smallholder farmers bear global market adjustments.
He called on the government to establish buffers for smallholder farmers, such as subsidies or productivity incentives, to protect them from external shocks. Mr Afrifa-Oware stressed that when citizens feel they are constantly asked to sacrifice while accountability at higher levels appears limited, public agitation intensifies. He urged the government to build trust by fulfilling its social contract and implementing socio-economic intervention policies to address the emerging needs of the people, thus alleviating the plight of ordinary Ghanaians.