2025 was a year defined by rapid political shifts and economic hurdles in Ghana, and it is emerging that IMANI Centre for Policy and Education played a pivotal role in the major developments in the country.
IMANI can be described as a primary “architect of change” in the practice of Civil Society in the country.
The latest 2025 Annual Report and Financial Statement of the CSO reveals that the think tank operated at the height of its influence, moving beyond mere research papers to directly impact policies, laws, and decisions of the land, some of which directly affect the ordinary Ghanaian.
2025 was an eventful year, per the 2025 Annual Report. The High Street Journal, based on the report, has compiled the major and impactful acts of the think tank and how they brought change in the country.
The Decisive Victory: Halting the Lithium Deal
One of the most tangible pieces of evidence of IMANI’s impact occurred on December 10, 2025, when Parliament officially withdrew the proposed Ewoyaa Lithium mining agreement. This historic halt followed a high-level, private meeting between President John Dramani Mahama and IMANI leadership, where the think tank provided an independent, evidence-based assessment of the deal’s flaws.
By standing firm against a “flawed agreement,” IMANI ensured that Ghana’s natural resources would be governed with greater transparency.
Holding Power Accountable: The 120-Day Verdict
Throughout 2025, IMANI continued its role as the nation’s “governance referee” through the IMANIFESTO Project. In a bold move, the center released a critical assessment of the government’s first 120 days in office, measuring progress against 26 specific commitments made in a Social Contract.
This wasn’t just academic; it was a practical tool used to keep the administration accountable to the promises that won them the election.
Further solidifying this influence, President Mahama selected IMANI’s Founding President, Franklin Cudjoe, to serve on a four-member team to design a new Governance Advisory Council.
This council is intended to be the central watchdog for enforcing accountability across all government ministries.
Advocating for the “Green” and the “Free”
Throughout 2025, IMANI acted as a bridge between environmental goals and economic reality. The following are some of the exploits of the think tank in this area;
• The Green Economy: Collaborative research with the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) identified that high capital costs and policy incoherence are the primary barriers killing green businesses in Ghana.
• Economic Freedom: On university campuses in Somanya and Accra, IMANI engaged over 650 students to discuss the dangers of government over-regulation in sectors like cement and LPG, arguing that “interventionism” often threatens investment and consumer choice.
A Legal and Regional Watchdog
IMANI’s impact also extended to the courtroom and the countryside:
• The Electoral Commission: The Commission on Human Rights & Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) dismissed an attempt by the Electoral Commission to block an IMANI petition regarding the disposal of election equipment, allowing the case for accountability to proceed.
• Northern Ghana: A strategic visit to Tamale and Salaga highlighted critical failures in local water infrastructure and service delivery, bringing national attention to regional neglect.
The Digital Megaphone
None of this work would have the same impact without IMANI’s massive digital reach. In 2025, the center maintained a cross-platform community of approximately 95,000 followers, generating over 1.4 million views across its social media channels.
This digital engine ensures that complex policy issues are broken down into simple, relatable truths for the average Ghanaian.
Financial Explosive Growth: A Vote of Confidence
The financials of the think tank also saw a dramatic turnaround. Perhaps the most surprising milestone in the report is IMANI’s financial health. The organization saw a massive surge in donor trust, with its total income jumping from GH₵ 1,209,658 in 2023 to a staggering GH₵ 5,285,071 in 2024.
• Grant Income: Rose to GH₵ 3,564,662.
• Total Assets: Increased to GH₵ 2,579,334.
This 400% increase in revenue has allowed the center to expand its reach, ensuring that its independent voice is backed by the resources needed to challenge powerful interests.
A Call for Integrity
As the year closed, Board Chairman Sam Poku issued what he called a clarion call to the nation. He believes that for Ghana to truly flourish, every citizen and leader must adopt a mindset of “INTEGRITY, INTEGRITY, and INTEGRITY”.
“I take the opportunity to make a CLARION CALL to every single Ghanaian to please espouse a transformed mindset of only three things: INTEGRITY, INTEGRITY, and INTEGRITY,” Sam Poku appealed.
In a nutshell, IMANI in 2025 proved that a think tank does not have to be a quiet library of ideas. Instead, it can be a National Mirror, reflecting the government’s true performance, and also a representative of the people and the policy makers, steering the country away from bad deals and toward a more prosperous, transparent future.
