'You have no moral right to complain about cost of living' – Prof Anankware to Bawumia

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Dr. Jacob Anankware, has accused former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of hypocrisy over his criticism of the cost of living under the current government.

Dr. Anankware argued that Dr. Bawumia, who led the Economic Management Team from 2017 to 2025, must also account for the economic difficulties Ghanaians faced during the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

He said the former Vice President had previously urged Ghanaians to focus on economic indicators and digitalisation when concerns were raised about the impact of economic conditions on household finances.

Dr. Anankware cited the 54.1% inflation rate recorded in 2022 and the depreciation of the cedi during Dr. Bawumia’s tenure, arguing that his current criticisms were inconsistent with the explanations he offered while in government.

“Bawumia is arguing against himself. Really? Yes. That president, he was merely arguing against himself and that is his biggest vulnerability,” he said.

The EPA official also attributed some of the current economic challenges to policies introduced under the previous administration, including the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme and the conditions attached to Ghana’s programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to him, the effects of those measures continued to weigh on households, making it necessary for Dr. Bawumia to account for his own economic record when assessing the current administration.

Dr. Anankware also challenged the former Vice President’s argument that improvements in economic indicators had not translated into meaningful relief for ordinary Ghanaians.

He maintained that the decline in inflation to about 5% represented an improvement in economic conditions, although it did not mean prices would immediately fall.

“Low inflation does not necessarily mean that prices should fall. He should know better,” Dr. Anankware said.

He explained that lower inflation meant prices were increasing at a slower rate than they did during the period of exceptionally high inflation under the previous administration.

Dr. Anankware further argued that the relative stability of the cedi had helped traders maintain more predictable prices for goods.

To illustrate his point, he recounted an encounter with a trader in Kumasi who reportedly told him that the price of pepper had dropped from GH¢70 to GH¢50.

He said such experiences suggested that some consumers were beginning to feel the benefits of improving economic conditions.

The EPA deputy CEO challenged Dr. Bawumia to explain how he would reduce utility bills and other household expenses without reversing the gains made in lowering inflation.

“If he ever gets the nod, not God forbid, and inflation goes back to 54%, and people tell him the pocket is okay, will he say that he has managed the economy?” he asked.

Dr. Anankware concluded that Dr. Bawumia’s criticism of the current cost of living was at odds with the economic explanations he gave during his time as Vice President.