‘Students were paying way cheaper hostel fee under NPP’ – Dr. Ezekiel Obeng

A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) national communications team, Dr Ezekiel Obeng Agyekum, has questioned the impact of Ghana’s improving economic indicators on the cost of living.

Dr Obeng’s comments follow NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s criticism of the government’s handling of the economy at the NPP’s National Thanksgiving Service in Sunyani on Sunday, October 18.

The former Vice-President described Ghana’s economic situation as a “paper economy” and a “pocket economy”, arguing that improvements in inflation and the exchange rate had not translated into corresponding relief for households.

Dr Bawumia questioned the value of economic stability if Ghanaians continue to struggle with the cost of living, including fuel, utility bills and transport fares.

Defending the comment, the NPP communicator argued that ordinary Ghanaians continue to face high prices despite the decline in inflation and the strengthening of the cedi.

He said fuel prices and university accommodation fees illustrate the gap between the government’s reported economic performance and the daily experiences of citizens.

“Even with all those subsidies and the reduction in exchange rate and inflationary rate compared to what you claim were bad economic indicators, we were doing better. The Ghanaian was better off buying fuel at a cheaper rate compared to what we have today,” he said on Accra-based TV3's New Day show.

Dr Obeng cited accommodation at Commonwealth Hall, which he said cost GH¢2,000 annually when inflation was about 23 per cent and the exchange rate was around GH¢14.50 to the US dollar, but now costs GH¢3,500.

“That same Legon student is going to pay GH¢3,500 to access Commonwealth Hall today, an increment of 75 per cent — that is the lived reality of the Ghanaian. That is what Dr Bawumia is talking about,” he stressed.