Kwabena Agyei Agyapong Should Spare Us With The Empty Rhetoric, Dr. Bawumia Is Already Connected To The Base

Mr. Kwabena Agyapong, one of the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) aspirants for the flagbearership position launched his campaign on the 11th July, 2023 to tell Ghanaians and NPP delegates what he has for us. His campaign launch was not different from the other aspirants who think that, the best way to get the votes of the delegates of the party is to demonize the Nana Akufo-Addo's government, which is the product of the party. What did he really say?

Mr. Kwabena Agyapong said among others that ''today, we lie on a stretcher before the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Ghana has become in the eyes of many, a case study of how not to do it”. After reading his statements, I was just wondering if he is aware of the journey of President Nana Akufo-Addo's government relative to the economy from 2017 to the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and the unfortunate Russian-Ukraine conflict.

It is very disturbing, how, for the sake of political leadership in the party, some aspirants of the NPP have suddenly forgotten of where we came from as a country with regards to the management of the economy. Do we really have short memories as Ghanaians, as said sometime ago by former President John Mahama? Whether you agree with me or not, Ghana, just like many other countries globally have suffered economic challenges as a result of the two major exogenous shocks experienced within a space of three years.

The President Nana Akufo-Addo's government inherited an economy with a growth rate of 3.6, inflation of 15.4 and unstable exchange rate depreciation of the Cedi. Ghana experienced rapid economic growth from 2017 to 2019, with a sustained single digit inflation, a sustained average annual growth rate of 7% of GDP and 7% average annual exchange rate depreciation of the Cedi. Within this period, Ghana was among the fastest growing economies in the world. These remarkable economic achievements were chalked before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic came with its serious disruptions to the global supply of goods and services and with its negative global economic effects of which Ghana was not left out. This was a period of fear and panic, and the government successfully managed the situation, though, it did not come to pass without causalities and deaths.

In 2021, post COVID economy growth rate was 5.4, which was far better than the inherited growth rate of 3.6 under former President John Mahama. I must emphasize that, for the first time in the history of the 4th republic, Ghana attained a single digit year on year inflation for four years consecutively (2018 to 2021).

Just at the time Ghana was recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine conflict came in. There is no doubt that the managers of the economy were on tract untill those global economic shocks set in. So, how on earth should an NPP flagbearer aspirant, look in the eyes of the NPP'S delegates, and tell them that the current economic challenges are as a result of faults of individuals in government as indicated in the following statement?

He indicated that “The NPP cannot afford to put forward those, who led the country into the current economic challenges and expect Ghanaians to embrace them during the 2024 election.” Is Mr. Kwabena Agyapong oblivious to the fact that, the world supper powers (countries) are also still suffering the effects of the global shocks experienced? Is Mr. Kwabena Agyapong also oblivious to the fact that, over 20 African countries have either accessed or are in the process of accessing the IMF program since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict?. This year alone, five African countries have accessed IMF program for support in reviving their economies.

What Mr. Kwabena Agyapong should know is that, the current state of the economy of Ghana is not due to mismanagement by this current government but the factors that have largely contributed to the current economic challenges and have landed us to the IMF as indicated by the IMF, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), World Bank, among others, are the banking sector cleanup bailout; which was caused by the John Mahama's government, unfairly downgrading of some African countries including Ghana by some credit rating agencies; which has cost such countries, combined effect of 74 billion dollars loses, the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine conflict and the unpatriotic take or pay energy contracts signed by former President John Mahama's government. So, Mr. Kwabena Agyapong, your empty rhetoric about the economy of Ghana and by extension, the government of President Nana Akufo-Addo and NPP, with all due respect, has to stop.

In attempt to convince the delegates to vote for him, Mr. Kwabena Agyapong had this to say “a new face, a pair of clean hands and a leader to reconnect with the base and earn the trust of Ghanaians”. What I simply want Mr. Kwabena Agyapong to know is that, there is no need getting a new face to reconnect with the base because H. E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is already connected with the base, the reason why his signal is very strong and the delegates are connecting all over the country. Most objective minded Ghanaians have described Dr. Bawumia as the most impactful Vice President ever in the history of the 4th Republic of Ghana, for matter, they trust him to get the opportunity to lead Ghana to the promised land. The economy is recovering and we are bouncing back together, stronger and better than before.

It is possible. In Shaa Allah

Thank you

Alhaji Salifu Hadara
A Patriot
Nalerigu - Gambaga Constituency
North East Region
[email protected]