The Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central and Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Honourable Isaac Adongo has criticized the recent apology by Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam.
In a scathing critique, the NDC Member of Parliament dismissed the minister’s plea for forgiveness over the economic hardships endured by Ghanaians as nothing more than a calculated political maneuver aimed at bolstering the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) chances in the upcoming elections.
He argued that the minister’s apology is less about genuine remorse and more about aligning with advice from NPP stalwart and Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong.
“Agyapong advised the party to extend an apology to the Ghanaian populace for the economic challenges prior to seeking their electoral endorsement in December. It is evident that Dr. Amin Adam is demonstrating attentiveness to Agyapong’s guidance pertaining to the augmentation of support for their party.
“Although this feigned contrition strategy by the NPP is not new, it indicates a dismissive attitude towards the prevailing economic circumstances of the average Ghanaian. For seven years, we have been enduring the repercussions of deficient, ineffective, self-centred, and supercilious policies, decisions, and actions in the comprehensive governance of the economy”.
Honorable Isaac Adongo, Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, and Ranking Member, Finance Committee of Parliament
The Bolgatanga Central MP accused the minister of dishonesty, saying it is misleading to blame the hardships solely on the DDEP of 2023.
According to Hon. Adongo, the DDEP was merely a necessary remedy to address the economic damage caused by the NPP’s misgovernance over the years.
He highlighted the severe impact of the NPP’s policies, particularly the chaotic banking sector cleanup between 2017 and 2020, which led to widespread unemployment, homelessness, and financial ruin for many Ghanaians.
Mismanagement of Ghana’s Economy
Honourable Isaac Adongo further criticized the NPP government’s economic management, citing the closure of Ghanaian-owned banks and Savings & Loans companies, which served as vital sources of capital for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The fallout from these closures, he noted, has not only deepened poverty and unemployment but has also burdened the country with over GHS25 billion in public debt, with little to no transparency on how these funds were used to protect depositors.
The MP did not spare the government’s taxation policies, labelling them as oppressive. He pointed to the introduction of various levies—such as the E-Levy, the COVID-19 levy, and others—as the primary reason behind the struggles of many Ghanaian businesses, especially importers.
“Numerous enterprises, particularly importers, have found it imperative to adjust pricing due to the NPP government’s imposition of the benchmark rate policy at the port, resulting in significant escalations in duties levied on imported commodities. The prevailing circumstances have been significantly exacerbated by the inadequate and chaotic exchange rate management within the Economic Management Team and by Ernest Addison.
“Members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association and spare parts dealers have directly experienced the intolerable import conditions under which they are compelled to operate. The consistent escalation in import prices has profoundly impacted every Ghanaian household, necessitating arduous decisions in daily expenditure, contributing to reduced living standards, and exacerbating levels of poverty and unemployment”.
Honorable Isaac Adongo, Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, and Ranking Member, Finance Committee of Parliament
Allegations of Nepotism and Corruption
Honourable Isaac Adongo also took aim at what he described as the preferential treatment given to family members and close associates of President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and other top NPP officials.
He alleged that while the majority of Ghanaians have suffered, these individuals have enriched themselves through sole-sourced government contracts and other means, often at the expense of the public purse.
“Akufo-Addo’s brother, who was previously involved in small-scale chicken parts importation, has experienced a significant rise, now a major player in the importation of petroleum products for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), with significant influence at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC). Meanwhile, Akufo-Addo’s close cousins have seen a sudden and significant surge in wealth, often indulging in luxurious stays at hotels in Southern Europe”.
Honorable Isaac Adongo, Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, and Ranking Member, Finance Committee of Parliament
“Dr. Bawumia’s spouse was actively outspoken against favoritism towards family and friends in government before 2017”, Adongo further noted, accusing Dr Bawumia himself of now benefiting from substantial government contracts awarded to his brother.
He questioned the Finance Minister’s knowledge of contracts awarded to companies linked to former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta and others within the administration.
The Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Honorable Isaac Adongo also highlighted the ostentatious spending by NPP officials at various public and private gatherings, calling it a clear indication of how resources have been disproportionately distributed under the NPP government.
This, he argued, is a blatant disregard for the economic hardships endured by ordinary Ghanaians, who continue to struggle under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and poverty.
The MP questioned the sincerity of Dr. Amin Adam’s apology, asking how a minister who is widely seen as a champion for the underprivileged could advocate for Ghanaians to forgive the NPP and allow them to remain in power.
Hon. Adongo suggested that the minister’s appeal is effectively an endorsement of the NPP’s poor economic management, corruption, and nepotism, which have been the hallmark of their governance since 2017.
Hon. Adongo further expressed disbelief that despite the significant increase in public debt—rising from GHS122 billion in 2016 to nearly GHS800 billion by June this year—there is little to show for it in terms of public infrastructure.
He called on the Finance Minister to provide a detailed account of the government’s use of resources instead of relying on “scripted campaign rhetoric.”
In his concluding remarks, Honorable Isaac Adongo urged Ghanaians not to be swayed by what he described as a “cynical ploy” by the NPP to win votes by appealing to the people’s forgiving nature.
Instead, he called for a vote for change in the upcoming elections, advocating for the leadership of former President John Dramani Mahama, whom he described as a “tried and tested leader” capable of rescuing Ghana from the clutches of “incompetent and selfish leadership”.
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