The Member of the NDC Communications team Madam Louisa Kwakye, has criticized and evaluated the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) performance under the Akufo-Addo Bawumia government, questioning the progress claimed by the administration, particularly on economic management.
She framed the discussion by pointing out that the NPP had a full eight years to implement and showcase policies, while their performance during their first term was used as the standard by which their success in the second term would be measured.
Louisa Kwakye argued that in these eight years, the NPP failed to achieve sustainable economic growth, contrasting it with former President John Dramani Mahama’s achievements.
“President Mahama, as a vice president, this nation enjoyed a single-digit inflation for months. That is the record we are comparing with the vice presidency of Dr Bawumia.”
Louisa Kwakye Member of the NDC Communications
She emphasized that while Dr. Bawumia has faced challenges maintaining economic stability, John Mahama managed these issues successfully despite not being an economist, an achievement that underscores the shortcomings of Bawumia’s tenure.
“The NPP rightfully says he’s not an economist, so if somebody who is not an economist is able to manage the Cedi, and the so-called economic messiah that we were branded has not even maintained what the [non-economist] did—what is that?”
Louisa Kwakye Member of the NDC Communications
NDC’s Strategy for Economic Resilience
Louisa Kwakye delved into the NDC’s manifesto and detailed plans focused on import substitution and export-driven growth to stabilize the economy.
“We have a lot of policies that geared toward making an import substitution, an export-driven economy, a 24-hour economy where we’ll be overly productive and work around the clock [to] stabilize the Cedi.”
Louisa Kwakye Member of the NDC Communications
Madam Louisa Kwakye specifically highlighted the “Red Gold Policy” for palm oil production, which would drastically reduce Ghana’s import costs and enable the country to export, thereby strengthening the currency.
“If we are producing a double, which is 500,000 tons, we will have a free flow of the dollar into our system every time. With this plan that we have, where will the Cedi break loose and go?”
Louisa Kwakye Member of the NDC Communications
She contrasted this with the promises made by the NPP, which she claims lacked a clear roadmap.
According to her, Nana Addo’s promise was not given with any roadmap. He did not tell us exactly how he was going to do that. But NDC’s erstwhile President John Mahama, based on his experience, has provided a roadmap.
Neglected Fisheries Sector and Fishermen’s Struggles
A key part of Madam Louisa Kwakye’s critique was the perceived neglect of the fisheries sector, which has historically been essential for coastal communities.
“Under President Mahama’s presidency, the outboard motor [was bought with the chief fisherman as the frontier.
So, if I am a fisherman and I need an outboard motor, I go to the chief fisherman, register, and pay a certain amount to the bank. And Government under President Mahama [covered] half of the bill.”
Louisa Kwakye Member of the NDC Communications
Madam Louisa Kwakye argued that this subsidy system has been replaced under the current administration with a politicized allocation that limits the availability of resources for fishermen and increases prices.
“Now, when the cars come in, they give the NPP chairman one, the women organizer part, and they are left with a few to scramble for at a price that is three times what they were paying under President Mahama.”
Louisa Kwakye Member of the NDC Communications
Fisheries College and Cold Storage Facility Abandoned
Madam Louisa Kwakye pointed to what she described as further neglect by the NPP government.
According to Louisa Kwakye, these initiatives were part of Mahama’s vision for empowering the fisheries sector and creating value-added resources.
“The Fisheries College has been closed down. The facility at the coast of Elmina was supposed to store the excess catch from fishermen to sell at cheap prices later on. This facility has been turned into an ice block facility.”
Louisa Kwakye Member of the NDC Communications
Additionally, the cold storage facility, designed to handle surplus fish, has been repurposed for the sale of ice blocks rather than the intended storage and processing of fish products.
Calls for Accountability
Finally, madam Kwakye challenged the NPP on its accountability record and called for a critical assessment of Bawumia’s vice presidency.
“If the NPP has any level of shame, they will not rub in our faces the dollar-to-Cedi rate as we are seeing now, compared to President Mahama when he was vice president.”
Louisa Kwakye Member of the NDC Communications
Madam Louisa Kwakye’s reflections serve as a pointed critique of the NPP’s performance, calling for the need for strategic planning, transparent allocation of resources, and policies aimed at economic resilience rather than short-term political gain.
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