“SIDE CHICK ECONOMICS!” President John Mahama Explains Why Paying Contractors Benefits Everyone

In a moment that has set the internet on fire, the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has given a whole new meaning to “inclusive growth.”

While defending his administration’s massive “Big Push” infrastructure initiative at the Kwahu Business Forum, the President took a lighthearted—but very controversial—detour to explain how government money trickles down to the very last person in the chain.

The “Side Chick” Ripple Effect

President Mahama was making the point that when the government pays contractors for road and building projects, that money doesn’t just sit in a bank account. It moves through the economy in ways most people don’t talk about in official speeches.

“When the contractors get paid, they go and buy a Land Cruiser for themselves—car dealers benefit. And even their spouses—the wives and the side chicks—also benefit,” the President said, drawing massive laughter from the audience.

He didn’t stop there. He went on to explain that once the “side chicks” and wives get their share, they head to the hairdressers, dressmakers, jewelry shops, and handbag sellers. Essentially, Mahama argued that “side chick spending” is a legitimate driver of the local economy!

The “Big Push” Strategy

While the “side chick” comments stole the headlines, the core of the President’s speech was about the GH¢13 billion allocated to the “Big Push” project in the 2026 budget.

The initiative aims to fast-track infrastructure development across Ghana, including:

• The Eastern Corridor Road project
• Free Primary Healthcare (launched recently at Shai-Osudoku)
• The District Housing Scheme

Mahama emphasized that beyond the “spouses,” the construction boom is providing jobs for thousands of young engineers, carpenters, and even the food vendors (the waakye and kenkey sellers) who serve the workers on site.

Mixed Reactions Across West Africa

The comments have sparked a heated debate on social media, especially here in Nigeria and Ghana:

• The “Realists”: Many are praising the President for his “honesty” and “street-smart” understanding of how the informal economy actually works in West Africa.
• The “Critics”: Others are calling the remarks “unpresidential,” arguing that it promotes infidelity and trivializes the serious issue of government spending and corruption.

NaijaTunesHub Verdict

Whether you call it “Side-chick-nomics” or just plain old circulation of wealth, President Mahama has definitely found a way to make infrastructure talk interesting! One thing is for sure: the hairdressers and car dealers in Accra are probably hoping those contract payments keep coming.