By Stephen Asante
Accra, Jan. 1, GNA – Ghanaians across the country have welcomed 2026 with hope and reflection, viewing the New Year as an opportunity for renewal and a fresh start.
President John Dramani Mahama, accompanied by his wife and family members, joined citizens in ushering in the New Year at a 31st December Watch Night Service at the Assemblies of God, Ringway Gospel Centre, Accra.
The President promised to revive the nation’s economy under the Resetting Ghana Agenda, create more job opportunities, and ensure infrastructural development to improve living conditions.
Fitch Solutions forecasts Ghana’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to rise from 5.8 per cent in 2025 to 5.9 per cent in 2026, supported by robust private consumption and a rebound in fixed investment following 2023’s contraction.
Across churches in Accra, New Year messages focused on peace, tolerance, good neighbourliness, hard work and discipline, as congregations prayed for the nation’s growth.
Some Ghanaians reflected on personal challenges in 2025, including the loss of loved ones, job disappointments, accidents, illnesses and other adversities, while expressing hope for a brighter future.
“In spite of the challenges confronting us, we need to always develop a positive mindset -proving that, truly, our society is not getting worse, it is getting better,” Torgbiga Mawufeame Fugah, President of the Council of Ewe Chiefs in the Ashanti, Ahafo and Bono Regions, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview.
He extended the Council’s warmest New Year greetings to Ghanaians and said it was imperative that citizens remained focused and visionary to build a more prosperous society.
The 2026 Budget Statement, themed “Resetting for Growth, Jobs, and Economic Transformation,” aims to consolidate macroeconomic stability while promoting job creation, infrastructure, security and social sector development, and implementing structural reforms for inclusive growth.
Inflation is expected to decline from 4.2 per cent in 2025 to 3.7 per cent in 2026, providing stability to support consumer confidence and economic growth.
Ernest Quaicoo, a 54-year-old social development analyst, said there was a global shift from fear-based systems to ‘Happytalism’, where the happiness and freedom of all beings are central to development.
He said the United Nations now published an annual World Happiness Report that influences governments to prioritise mental health, social support and environmental quality.
“Concepts like Gross National Happiness (GNH), first pioneered in Bhutan, have inspired wellbeing indices in countries such as New Zealand, Scotland, the UAE and Ecuador – translating the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals into focusing on building what we do want (joy, peace, health) rather than just fighting what we don’t want,” he emphasised.
Historically, New Year celebrations date back to Mesopotamia in 2000 BC, initially observed around the vernal equinox in March.
The Roman calendar later marked March 1 as the first day of the year, before January became the designated start month.
The Gregorian Calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, established January 1 as New Year’s Day, including leap year adjustments. Pre-Christian Romans dedicated the day to Janus, the god of Gateways and Beginnings.
In Ghana, the New Year is celebrated with happiness, hope and renewal.
Across churches, beaches, bars and other social spaces the GNA visited, Ghanaians ushered in 2026 with prayer, singing, dancing and thanksgiving.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey