Akufo-Addo administration wickedly worsened COVID-19 hardships on Ghanaians — Manasseh Azure

Investigative journalist and author Manasseh Azure Awuni

Investigative journalist and author Manasseh Azure Awuni has criticised the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) government under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for deepening the hardships faced by Ghanaians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He argued that while the pandemic brought global challenges, the Akufo-Addo administration compounded the difficulties through insensitive and poorly implemented policies.

In a social media post on Friday, January 16, Manasseh Azure highlighted the government’s handling of airport testing as an example of excessive charges.

“When the airports were opened during the pandemic, the cost of antigen tests in Ghana was between $16 and $41 at various health facilities. Meanwhile, the government imposed a single testing company at the airport, charging a mandatory fee of $150 per test.

“The pandemic imposed hardship on Ghanaians, but this is when the Akufo-Addo administration decided to worsen,” he said.

He further criticised the allocation of the sanitation and pollution levy that benefited only Jospong Group at the expense of Ghanaians.

“Revenue from the sanitation and pollution levy imposed on fuel was disbursed to only one business entity, the Jospong Group, even though the group was already benefiting from statutory funds such as the District Assemblies Common Fund,” stated the journalist.

Manasseh Azure cautioned that internal mismanagement and exploitative policies can offset positive economic gains and urged the current government to remain vigilant in protecting citizens from similar hardships.