A pro NDC group made up of Professionals called PROFORUM, has said the recent apology given by the Finance Minister is a desperate attempt to manipulate public opinion.
The forum says the apology is meant to douse the flame of anger ignited by the ‘Agyapadeɛ‘ document.
According to a statement signed by the global president of the forum, Sam Pee Yalley, Thursday, August 07, 2024, he said the ‘Agyapadeɛ’ document has exposed the “government’s deceitful and reckless handling of the economy, describing the apology as a weak attempt to deflect attention from the damning revelations.”
The Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, at a townhall meeting in Accra Wednesday, August 07, 2024, asked Ghanaians to forgive the government for the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
The Minister noted that the initiative necessary for the government to restructure its debt to meet the IMF conditionality for the bailout.
“We needed to restructure our debts because it was one of the requirements by the IMF. We started with the domestic debt exchange programme, the domestic exchange programme was very successful, achieving 95 per cent participation. On this note, I would like to appeal to the people of this country to forgive us,” the Minister stated.
Meanwhile, the Proforum group insists the apology is insincere.
Find below the full statement:
August 7, 2024
To: All Major Press Houses
NDC Professionals Forum
Press Release
We the members of the NDC Professionals Forum utterly reject the insincere and belated apology offered by the Minister of Finance, Mohamed Amin Antah, for the catastrophic Debt Exchange Program, the tragic Banking Sector Clean Up, and the colossal failed economic policies of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumua led NPP government. These policies have brought unprecedented hardships to Ghanaians, and the apology is nothing but a desperate attempt to secure public sympathy and undeserved votes in the December 7 General Elections
We note that the apology is meant to douse the current flame of anger ignited by the revelations in the Agyapadie Document, which appears to be a stronger version of the Nostradamus Prophecies. The document has exposed the government’s deceitful and reckless handling of the economy, and the apology is a weak attempt to deflect attention from the damning revelations.
In reality, the Agyapadie Document served as a framework for the massive state capture of public resources, undue politicization, and corruption of institutions through appointments. This has led to:
– A catastrophic Debt Exchange Program that has wiped out the life savings of innocent Ghanaians
– A tragic Banking Sector Clean Up that has destroyed businesses and livelihoods
– A colossal failure of flagship projects such as Planting for Food and Jobs, which has only served to enrich government officials and their cronies
– A classic abuse and financial exploitation of the COVID-19 pandemic which has further exacerbated the economic crisis
We demand more than empty apologies; we demand accountability, transparency, and a comprehensive overhaul of the government’s economic policies. Minister Antah’s apology is nothing but a feeble attempt to save face and salvage the government’s tattered reputation.
Ghanaians will not be fooled by this desperate attempt to manipulate public opinion. We will continue to hold this government accountable for their actions and ensure that they do not benefit politically from their own failures.
Signed,
Amb. Sam Pee Yalley
Global President, NDC Professionals Forum
