body-container-line-1

Fix the economy and stop describing Ghanaians as liars- Angry Ghanaians in UK tell Mahama

By Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah
Politics Fix the economy and stop describing Ghanaians as liars- Angry Ghanaians in UK tell Mahama
OCT 23, 2014 LISTEN

President John Mahama is set to face hostile reception in UK following threats of demonstration by some angry Ghanaians living there.

A group calling itself Concerned Ghanaians living in the UK, will later Thursday demonstrate at the Marriot Hotel in London over the president's comments, which they say were insulting to their intelligence.

President Mahama, in an attempt to woo Ghanaian investors in the Diaspora to support the local economy, said among other things that Ghanaian residents do not paint an accurate picture about the true state of the economy to their relatives abroad.

"Things are working in Ghana," he said adding, if Ghanaian residents were to tell their relatives abroad that things were alright, they would not be encouraged to send them the token 100 and 200 pounds they have been sending.

He said it was in the interest of the Ghanaian residents to paint a gloomy picture about the country's economy so that their relatives abroad would be inclined to bring in more money.

President Mahama however, admitted  some challenges with the country's currency-the cedi- challenges he blamed on speculators.

While critics attributed the fall of the cedi to government's poor management of the economy, President John Mahama said activities of some politicians were to blame.

"I am proud to tell you things are going on well in Ghana. We had some challenges, especially with the cedi, but that was caused by speculators.

"Politicians talking down on the cedi. Why would they do that? he asked, adding, "the bubble will burst and when it bursts, you will lose money."

But the Concerned Ghanaians in the UK are not convinced by the president's arguments.

They are accusing him of peddling falsehoods about Ghana and insulting the intelligence of Ghanaians living abroad.

One of the leaders of the impending demonstration, Nana Ansah told Joy News they religiously  follow  happenings in Ghana and do know about the strangling economic challenges Ghanaians are facing.

"So for the president to say Ghanaians don't tell us the truth," is unfortunate, he said.

"The president must stop talking and work. The talking is too much," he charged.

He said with the high debt to GDP ratio, under president John Mahama who has been in government for well over six years, Ghana is heading back to HIPC.

He would rather the president fix the economy and "stop calling Ghanaians liars."

body-container-line