Former Deputy Finance Minister Abena Osei Asare has strongly refuted President John Dramani Mahama’s claims that the economy was “criminally mishandled” under the previous Akufo-Addo administration.
Speaking at the National Tripartite Committee meeting at the Ministry of Labour, Jobs, and Employment on February 20, where the government announced a 10% increase in base pay for public sector workers, President Mahama criticized the economic management of the previous government.
He reiterated similar concerns during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of his second term, expressing shock at the state of the economy.
In response, Osei Asare defended the economic stewardship of the Akufo-Addo administration, stating that while Ghana faced economic challenges, the claim of criminal mismanagement was inaccurate.
“Ghana’s economy was not ‘criminally handled,’ as the President implies. Like many economies worldwide, we faced challenges, but we took responsible measures to address them. The signs of economic recovery were evident before the change in government.
“Real GDP growth averaged 6.3% in 2024 (Q1 – Q3), led by the industry sector, which recorded a growth of 10.4%,” she stated.
Highlighting key economic indicators, she pointed out that a positive primary balance of 0.4% was achieved as of November 2024, compared to a negative primary balance of -1.4% of GDP in 2016. She also noted that total revenue collection had exceeded its target by 3.3%, further disputing claims of financial mismanagement.
Osei Asare acknowledged that Ghana was still facing economic difficulties but insisted that Mahama’s portrayal of the economy was misleading.
“While we acknowledge that we are not out of the woods yet, the narrative being pushed by the President is simply not accurate,” she added.
Her remarks reflect the ongoing political debate over the state of the economy, with the opposition challenging the government’s assertions on economic performance and policy direction.
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