Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Okudzeto Ablakwa, has stated that the worst period of John Mahama’s government surpasses the best achievements of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.
In an interview on Channel 1 TV’s “The Talking Points” on August 26, 2024, he cited various reports to support his claim.
Ablakwa referenced the Corruption Perception Index, which indicates that corruption has reached an all-time high, and the Statistical Service Report, which revealed that many Ghanaians went to bed hungry last year.
He also mentioned the Afrobarometer Democracy Risk Report, where nine out of ten Ghanaians interviewed stated that the country is heading in the wrong direction.
Ablakwa criticized the NPP’s excuse that the COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for the economic hardship, pointing out that it was a global pandemic, not an epidemic, and that many countries in the subregion are not experiencing the same level of economic distress as Ghana.
He questioned why Ghana is the only country in the subregion undergoing a domestic debt exchange program, highlighting that neighboring countries like Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria have not been shut out of international financial markets or downgraded to junk status.
Ablakwa also recalled warnings from experts, including a former World Bank country director, who cautioned since 2018 that Ghana was on a wrong trajectory due to excessive borrowing by the finance minister.
He noted that the cumulative euro bonds borrowed by the current administration surpass those of all previous presidents in the Fourth Republic.
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In another development, Minority Spokesperson on Agriculture and MP for Asunafo South, Eric Opoku, has criticised the government’s recent ban on the exportation of grains, arguing that it will not produce the desired positive outcomes.
On Monday, August 26, the government announced the ban to prevent a potential food shortage following reduced rainfall in northern Ghana.
However, Mr. Opoku believes that instead of imposing a ban, the government should focus on addressing the underlying factors that drive the exportation of grains.
“But what are the motivating factors? Is it the price? If they go there and they will get a higher price, certainly, the farmer will be motivated by the high price to send their grains to that place.
“But in this critical moment, now that we are in dire need of food, we have to stock enough food against a looming crisis.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has expressed optimism that there will be no famine despite the current drought in Northern Ghana.
Northern Ghana is grappling with a severe drought that has raised widespread concerns about food security and the livelihood of thousands of farmers.
The region has experienced no rainfall for over two months, resulting in stunted crop growth and leaving farmers with little hope for a successful harvest.
However, in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Face to Face on Channel One TV, Bryan Acheampong dismissed fears of a possible food shortage, assuring that such an occurrence will not happen in the country.
