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Public Displays on President Mahama’s First Press Convention: Year-End Overview

Introduction

As the political landscape of 2025 drew to a close, a significant barometer of public sentiment emerged regarding the administration’s communication strategies. The year-end period often serves as a critical moment for leadership to address the nation, review progress, and set the tone for the future. In this context, the first press convention of the year by President John Dramani Mahama became a focal point for national analysis. A comprehensive survey conducted by the Centre for Public Discourse Analysis (CPDA) provided fresh insights into how Ghanaians perceived this pivotal event.

This article delves into the detailed findings of the CPDA survey, analyzing public perception regarding the President’s demeanor, communication style, preparedness, and grasp of national issues. By examining these metrics, we can understand the nuances of presidential communication and its impact on democratic accountability. The data offers a unique snapshot of voter confidence and the effectiveness of the administration’s engagement with the citizenry during the year-end overview.

Key Points

Background

To fully appreciate the significance of these findings, it is essential to understand the context in which this press convention took place. As 2025 concluded, the Ghanaian political environment was characterized by heightened scrutiny of governance and economic management. Presidential press conventions serve as a vital bridge between the government and the governed, allowing for direct interrogation of state affairs.

The Centre for Public Discourse Analysis (CPDA), a reputable body dedicated to evaluating political communication, undertook this survey immediately following the President’s address. The objective was to capture immediate public sentiment and gauge the effectiveness of the administration’s communication machinery. The survey did not merely ask for a binary approval rating; it sought to dissect the components of effective leadership communication—ranging from tone and preparedness to transparency and problem-solving. This granular approach provides a robust dataset for understanding the “public displays” of leadership during a critical year-end review.

Analysis

The data presented by the CPDA offers a multi-dimensional view of the President’s performance. The analysis reveals that while the President excelled in presentation and demeanor, the public’s assessment of substantive policy impact was more measured.

The Power of Demeanor and Tone

One of the most striking findings is the 81.8% approval rating for the President’s attitude and the 79% approval for his tone. In the realm of political communication, non-verbal cues and the cadence of delivery are often as important as the content itself. This suggests that President Mahama successfully projected an image of confidence and control, which is crucial for maintaining public trust. The high score in “preparedness” (76.9%) further reinforces the perception of a leader who is in command of the facts, a key driver of credibility.

Information Flow and Clarity

Regarding the dissemination of information, the results indicate a “pass” but not a landslide victory. With 58.7% finding the information sufficient and 69.2% believing he answered questions effectively, the President cleared the bar of basic expectation. However, the existence of a dissenting minority (ranging from 20% to 21%) and a group of “unsure” respondents indicates that a segment of the population felt the communication could have been more detailed or clear. This highlights the challenge of meeting the diverse informational needs of an entire nation.

The Challenge of National Connection

The survey exposes a critical gap in the perception of “connection.” While 68.4% felt the President carried them along, nearly one-third of respondents did not share this sentiment. In politics, the ability to connect is synonymous with empathy—the feeling that the leader understands the daily struggles of the citizen. The mixed reviews on whether the President addressed the “most pressing issues” (58% yes) and ongoing conflicts (46.9% yes) suggest that while the delivery was appreciated, the content may not have fully resonated with the urgent concerns of all demographics.

Transparency and Accountability

Transparency scored at 62.9%. In a democratic setting, transparency is the bedrock of governance. While a majority view the President as open, the 20.3% who disagreed and the 16.8% who were uncertain represent a significant trust deficit. This metric is vital for democratic accountability, as noted by the lead researcher. The willingness of a leader to be open directly correlates with public willingness to accept difficult policy decisions.

Practical Advice

For political observers, campaign strategists, and students of political science, the CPDA survey offers several practical takeaways on how to evaluate and execute effective presidential communication.

For Political Analysts

When evaluating future press conferences, do not rely solely on the “headline” approval numbers. Look at the granular data. A President may score high on demeanor (as Mahama did) but lower on transparency. Analysts should weigh these factors to determine if the event was a “performance” or a genuine exercise in governance. The presence of “unsure” respondents is also a critical data point, often indicating a lack of clarity or a need for better messaging on complex issues.

For Communication Teams

The results underscore the importance of non-verbal communication. The high scores in attitude and tone suggest that the President’s team successfully managed the visual and auditory presentation. However, the lower scores in conflict resolution and connection suggest a need for content strategies that directly address pain points. Future events should focus on bridging the gap between “stating facts” and “addressing feelings.”

For the Electorate

Citizens can use this framework to hold leaders accountable. Instead of asking “Did the President look good?”, ask:

1. Did they provide specific data? (Information Sufficiency)
2. Did they answer the hard questions? (Effectiveness)
3. Did they acknowledge the opposition or conflict? (Conflict Resolution)
4. Did they seem accessible? (Connection)

FAQ

Conclusion

The CPDA survey results paint a picture of a President who successfully navigated the visual and stylistic demands of a year-end press convention, securing high marks for attitude, tone, and organization. However, the data also highlights the persistent challenges of political communication: bridging the gap with the unconvinced, addressing complex conflicts with clarity, and maintaining transparency in the eyes of a skeptical public. As Ghana continues to evaluate its political leadership, these metrics serve as a vital benchmark for the effectiveness of presidential engagement. The “public displays” captured in this overview confirm that while presentation is powerful, substance and connection remain the ultimate arbiters of public approval.