Sunyani: Barely six months into the tenure of office of President John Dramani Mahama, residents in Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital, said they have higher hopes in the government and anticipate progressive growth and economic prosperity.

According to Ghana News Agency, the government's performance within the six months remained credible, however, residents expected expeditious action on the implementation of the government's socio-economic interventions for wealth creation and poverty reduction.

In a random interview with the agency on the streets of the regional capital, the residents shared their views and sentiments, blended with hope and frustrations. Madam Efua Anima, a trader, said: "The continuation and improvement of Free SHS policy by the government has brought significant relief to me because two of my children are still in SHS and we have to commend President Mahama."

A commercial driver, Mr. Abraham Duah, expressed contentment with the government's performance, citing the scrapping of some taxes, the decrease in the prices of petroleum products, and the appreciation of the cedi as a positive outlook for the future. He urged the government to do more to sustain the progress so far, particularly in implementing policies and programmes to secure economic independence for accelerated national growth development.

Miss Sarah Ansah, a graduate, voiced concerns about the rising unemployment rate in the country, noting that "not everyone is content now and the government must tackle the unemployment situation." She emphasized the urgency for job creation policies for graduates and the youthful population, acknowledging that six months is insufficient for significant achievements.

Comparatively, Mr. Anthony Owusu, a pensioner, observed that the cost of living has achieved a slight balance but highlighted increasing utility bills as a concern needing government intervention. Mr. Samuel Baah, an educationist, called for a more transparent administration and improved government communication.

Overall, many residents acknowledged that six months in power is not enough time for the government to achieve its vision for the nation. They praised President Mahama for his performance thus far and expressed expectations for more robust actions in tackling issues like illegal mining, urging the 'Operation Recover All Loots' team to remain proactive in fulfilling their mandate.