The problems bedeviling the state under the administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) did not start today, 2024 flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has averred.
The former President says the economic quagmire inflicted upon Ghanaians stemmed from the reckless borrowing of the Finance Minister who presented a fake budget to give him the leeway to borrow more.
During an engagement with the Trades Union Congress Tuesday, November 7, 2023, John Mahama said government deliberately concealed the liabilities of the state in its budget statement to have a presentable economic outlook in order to borrow more from the international capital market.
This, according to him, is part of the reasons Ghana is battling with economic challenges.
He has indicated that the problems of the state had existed since 2018 by the deeds of the Akufo-Addo administration, and couldn’t have been blamed on the external shocks which occurred in 2020 and beyond.
“Comrades, we could have avoided this unpleasant situation. The signs of this crises were there for all to see. A conflicted Finance Minister whose only interest was to borrow endlessly and mar our economy in a quagmire of debt was obvious from as far back as 2018.
“A president whose budget was creatively crafted to hide huge liabilities in order to present a favourable economic outlook to the world so that he could borrow more from the international capital market was evident for all to see,” he noted.
John Mahama also pointed out nepotism in the current administration, arrogance of power, deliberate attempt to antagonise corruption fight and other deeds that have become inimical to the growth of the country as things that have characterised the Akufo-Addo government for years.
“Appointment of family and friends into various positions in government, blazing interference to obstruct the fight against corruption, reckless abuse of the public purse, arrogance and luxury in the conduct of public officers have all been characteristics of this administration since its inception in 2017, it didn’t start today,” he stated.
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