National Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), George Opare Addo, popularly known as Pablo, has criticized the performance of the Akufo-Addo administration, claiming it benefited from the economic policies implemented by former President John Mahama.
Speaking on Nhyira FM’s Kuro Yi Mu Nsem show with Barima Kofi Dawson, Mr. Opare Addo attributed Ghana’s impressive economic performance in 2017 and 2018 to the policies of John Mahama and the IMF program initiated during his tenure.
“John Mahama’s 2017 budget sustained our economy to the end of 2017 through to 2018. Under President Mahama, the economy performed better, but under Akufo-Addo, it has worsened. This is because the NDC entered the IMF program just before leaving office. The benefits of this program and other economic policies by Mahama were supposed to be realized from 2017, which Akufo-Addo came to enjoy and even extended to look like he is managing the economy well. Today, he is the worst manager of our economy,” Opare Addo remarked.
Pablo argued that the true state of the economy under President Akufo-Addo should be assessed from 2019, after Ghana exited the IMF program. He pointed out the depreciation of the Ghanaian cedi against the US dollar and its impact on businesses, describing the current economic situation as dire.
“They promised to stabilize the cedi with their economic messiah, Dr. Bawumia. Now, the dollar is 17 cedis. Many businesses have collapsed; you import something today, and tomorrow the dollar has increased, and you need more cedis to import that same thing again. In 2016, 10 cedis bought kenkey with fish, and 20 cedis made fufu for the family. Today, those amounts don’t go as far, with cement now costing 110 cedis. No wonder Ghanaians are angry,” he stated.
Touching on high food inflation, Pablo attributed the worsening cost of living to the government’s mismanagement, which he believes has angered many Ghanaians.
On the issue of the Free Senior High School policy, Mr. Opare Addo acknowledged its importance and emphasized that the NDC would improve its implementation if it returns to power.
“No government can cancel Free SHS; we must fix its flaws to improve it, and that’s what the NDC is advocating for,” he asserted.