General Secretary New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has disclosed that the John Mahama-led administration is the worse to have been in charge of the Ghana’s economy.

According to him, former President Mahama and former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, both had no ideas, leaving the economy in a worst state for the incumbent government to take over from them.

“Former President John Mahama and Mr. Seth Terkper are on public record as being the worst duo to have ever been in charge of the Ghanaian economy at the same time. Yet in their public forum on the 6th of September, 2021, the duo sought to create the impression that they had the best of times running the Ghanaian economy. Unfortunately for them, the facts show otherwise.

“Much as John Mahama seeks re-election on a campaign platform of ‘going back’ to the IMF, he attempts to confuse history by painting a rosy picture of his disastrous management of the Ghanaian economy between 2012 and 2016. Indeed, he put the economy in free fall after extreme reckless expenditure in excess of some GHC12 billion in pursuit of election victory in 2012”.
Mr John Boadu

State of Ghana’s economy

Mr Boadu explained the economy under Mr Seth Terkper, “never recovered” leading to “unheard of taxation measures on condoms and cutlasses”.

“This period of economic mismanagement was marked by rising inflation and downward growth, with growth declining steeply from 14% in 2011 to 3.9% in 2016.

“One of the most barefaced assertions he makes in his remarks at the public event hosted by Seth Terkper is that, he inherited a bad economy. Of course, he did. From himself. Having ruined the economy, he presided over as Vice President to the late President Mills, he stood before Parliament at his swearing in and proudly admitted running down the economy to the bone”.
Mr John Boadu

The NPP General Secretary explained that Ghana was an economy that “had been moved from HIPC, with substantial debt relief”. The debt relief, he explained, was grown from “3.7% in the year 2000 to over 8% at handover in 2008”.

Mr Boadu averred that this included “newly discovered oil in commercial quantities and a revamped cocoa sector”.

Corruption, incompetence and greed for power

The General Secretary of the NPP also averred that John Mahama cannot deceive Ghanaians by being insincere just to find his way back into power.

“Perhaps former President Mahama has forgotten so soon his abysmal record reflecting incompetence, corruption and greed for power.

“After eight elections, the Ghanaian electorate has become very sophisticated at reading between the lines. The half-truths and outright lies will fail to pass electoral scrutiny in 2024”.
Mr John Boadu

Mr Boadu further advised the NDC flagbearer to do due diligence in his bid to return to power in the next election.

“The NPP is urging former President Mahama to up his game as we continue with the serious business of resolving Ghana’s development challenges with a focus on investing in people and a support environment for growth”.
Mr John Boadu