Hon. Kwaku Kwarteng, Member of Parliament for Obuasi West, has clarified his previous remarks regarding the political landscape in Ghana and the country’s economic management by political leaders, which he likened to a Ponzi scheme, and is standing by his statement.
Hon. Kwaku Kwarteng emphasized that for the NPP to achieve its goal of “breaking the eight”, it is essential to engage with voters, understand their pressing issues, and make tangible commitments to address these concerns, thereby earning their support.
Hon. Kwaku Kwarteng explained that his comments were intended to serve as a wake-up call for the party, stressing the importance of adopting a realistic approach to their political pursuits and not becoming complacent in their efforts.
“What do I think people are feeling? It is not hard to see that businesses [and] individuals have been affected in many ways by the hardship we find in our economy today at both the national and household levels”.
“When I say national level; the macroeconomy, the stability of our currency, our relationship with our development partners, our interaction with the international community. We have that on the one side having quite some difficulty… Now, at the house household, you would also see that because of the unfavorable macroeconomic indicators, you are often seeing its impact on people’s pocket”.
Hon. Kwaku Kwarteng
He added that during his visits to the constituency, he consistently hears firsthand accounts from his constituents about the challenges they face due to the prevailing economic hardship, which reinforces the need for the party to address these concerns.
The MP pointed out that it is unjust to blame the current NPP administration for the country’s challenges, as if the situation was previously perfect and they single-handedly caused the problems, when in fact, the issues are more complex and multifaceted.
He emphasized that it’s misleading to assume the current administration is solely responsible for Ghana’s difficulties, instead attributing the country’s challenges to the cumulative impact of decades of economic mismanagement, which has finally reached a critical point.
Hon. Kwarteng stated that this makes it imperative for a comprehensive and realistic approach to address the issues.
Hon. Kwarteng cautioned that if leaders persist in their current trajectory, the subsequent government, regardless of the ruling party, will inherit an even more severe economic crisis, exacerbating the existing challenges and making it more daunting to find solutions.
“We have been to the IMF seventeen times and if you add HIPC and Structural Adjustment, nineteen times”. – Hon. Kwaku Kwarteng
NPP To Own Up To Economic Woes
Additionally, Hon. Kwaku Kwarteng emphasized that the NPP administration must take ownership of its contribution to the country’s economic struggles, acknowledging and accepting its portion of responsibility, rather than deflecting blame entirely.
He pointed out that the NPP administration had opportunities to implement reforms to halt the economic decline it inherited, but failed to do so.
He disclosed that he, along with like-minded NPP members, is advocating for these necessary reforms to be implemented, aiming to address the economic challenges.
According to the MP, a mere change of government will not suffice to resolve Ghana’s problems; rather, a fundamental transformation is needed in the mindset of the political elite regarding their stewardship of the country’s resources.
He urged the political class to prioritize responsible management and utilization for the benefit of all citizens.
“That is the kind of discussion that I want us all to have. There are many who have said, ‘But why did you bring the discussion close to the election?’ The thing is this, I want the NPP to be able to assess what has happened over all these decades to concede that the political class has failed in its duty to provide the kind of quality leadership needed to give our people the prosperity they need”.
“That is not to say it is just the NPP. Previous governments and all [are included]. If we can make that acknowledgment, then we can draw the line and say going forward, there will be an improvement”.
Hon. Kwaku Kwarteng
He warned that if drastic measures are not taken to address the current challenges, Ghana is perilously close to becoming a failed state, emphasizing the urgent need for transformative change to prevent catastrophic consequences and ensure a stable future.
The MP clarified that his comments are a clarion call to the entire nation, explaining that his emphasis on the NPP stems from his genuine conviction that the party possesses the potential and capacity to reverse the country’s downward trajectory and restore its fortunes, hence his desire to see them take corrective action.
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