We are suffering, but they only care about winning the elections

As Ghanaians are grappling with the effect of the economic challenges, those entrusted with the authority to address this problem are only concerned about winning the next elections, they have completely abandoned any plans to address the problems, yet they continue to draw salaries.

Those in authority, lacks the decency and decorum to think about the welfare of the ordinary Ghanaians, they have jettisoned any effort towards addressing the economy, they just want to win the next election, but to do what if they win?

When Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was sworn into office at the forecourt of the Black Star Square as the president of the republic on 7th January 2017, 1 United States Dollar (USD) was equal to GHC 4.1 and 1 Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP) was equal GHC 5.90. The country’s Debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 54 percent, the national debt stock had reached GHC 122.6 billion.

The year-on-year inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 15.4 percent in December 2016, down by 0.1 percentage point from the 15.5 percent recorded in November 2016.

The NPP whiles in opposition, condemned this and branded these indicators as cyphers of incompetence and ineptitude by the government of former president John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). They denigrated, vilified, maligned and eviscerated former President John Mahama with all sorts of disparaging adjectives. They promised to better manage the economy with lower exchange rate, lower debt to GDP, lower inflation and lower cost of living.

Eight years into the administration of President Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, USD1 is equal to GHC16 whiles 1GBP is equal to GHC20.55 (this is in spite of the fact that, the government has suspended servicing its foreign debt, the situation would have been worse than it is now) inflation is 24 percent, and debt to GDP is 86% percent. The country’s debt stock is currently GHC 742 billion as of June 2024.

Moreover, a bag of cement was selling at GHC 20 in 2016 but GHC 110 today, a gallon of diesel was GHC 18 in 2016, today a litre is selling at GHC 16.60 therefore a gallon is GHC 61.42 (from GHC18 in 2016 to 61.42 in 2024) under the current government who claimed to be competent. Unemployment rate was 7 percent in 2016, today it stands at 15 percent.

In 2016, according to the Transparency International’s released corruption perception index (CPI). The NDC’s worse performance was 43 which is better than the NPP’s best performance of 41.

In view of the above economic indicators that evidently show that, the NPP are the worse managers of the economy and the perfect description of incompetence, ordinarily, one would have expected the NPP to bow their heads down in shame and shut up or at least exert their energy towards addressing these challenges. Yet, they have the impudence and impertinence to go around the country claiming to be the better managers of the economy, whiles asking to be allowed to break the eight year cycle. How, what did we do to deserve these blatant disrespect and insults?

Despite the obvious failure and the country’s lack of direction, these same people are shamelessly and disrespectfully shouting “breaking the eight” instead of “fixing the mess”. If they had principles, integrity and a scintilla of respect for Ghanaians, they would not even contest the 2024 elections after this obvious abysmal performance.

Sincerely speaking, the obvious lack of remorse, regret and admission of failure by the members of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government towards Ghanaians after these glaring and unprecedented monumental economic mismanagement is appalling, disgusting, nauseating and an insult to the wisdom of Ghanaians.

Inexcusably, the members of the government and their communicators have shown clear disrespect to Ghanaians, they do not think we are intelligent, they think Ghanaians are gullible and naive.

The least Ghanaians deserve from the current government is an honest and candid apology. Each time the NPP communicators try to justify the current economic mess with the flimsiest excuse of COVID-19, it irritates every organ in my body, it is an insult to our intelligence, they should credit Ghanaians with some levels of intellect. In actual fact, this government has benefited from COVID-19 and is still benefiting. The only government in the world who has introduced COVID-Levy is the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government. This is despite the fact that, the government has received over USD3 billion from the IMF and the World Bank as COVID-19 relief fund.

I crave the indulgence of the government and its communicators to stop talking, because one dollar is GHC16, one pound is GHC 20.55 for GOD’S fake. Stop insulting our intelligence, stop adding insults to injury. Credit us with some intelligence, show some remorse, regrets, admit your failure and apologise. Most importantly, focus your energy towards solving the economic problems, instead of on winning the next elections, because you are still at post and drawing salaries from the national coffers.