In any functioning democracy, the economy serves as the foundation for national stability, growth, and development.
When addressing economic issues, statesmen must act as neutral arbiters, prioritizing the country’s interest above partisan or ideological concerns.
Their political bias, when unchecked, can compromise trust, undermine policy efficacy, and polarize society.
Accordingly, Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, has stated that former President John Agyekum Kufuor has every right to choose whoever he supports to lead the NPP during this election.
However, he added that Ghanaians also have the right to question the reasoning behind such a choice to endorse the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Cudjoe indicated that this is particularly important if those choices are linked to the economic mismanagement and political deceit that have left Ghana in its current state of stagnation and international embarrassment.
“He [Kufuor] has a right to choose whoever he wants to lead Ghana at this crucial moment.
“Where was President Kufuor’s voice when defenseless and frail old men and women had to queue under the scorching sun to beg Nana&Bawumia’s government to hand off their savings and miserable pension contributions?”
Franklin Cudjoe
Franklin Cudjoe expressed deep regret over the government’s decision to impose severe financial losses, or “haircuts,” on pensioners.
He noted that this policy caused immense hardship, tragically leading to the premature deaths of nearly 900 senior citizens.
He further questioned the silence of former President John Agyekum Kufuor during this crisis.
Cudjoe wondered why Kufuor did not speak out when millions of Ghanaians faced devastating financial losses due to the reckless economic mismanagement of the government’s Economic Management Team. “Did he sympathize with us?”
He questioned the absence of the former President’s voice during critical moments when citizens were grappling with severe economic challenges.
Cudjoe specifically highlighted the burden of a staggering 54% inflation rate, which has drastically eroded purchasing power, and the continued imposition of over 40 harsh and oppressive taxes.
These conditions, he argued, have significantly worsened the economic hardships faced by Ghanaians, yet the silence from the former President during such a crisis remains troubling. “Has he said a word to ordinary businesses and individuals who are toiling to make ends meet?”
Cudjoe Highlights Economic Mismanagement
Furthermore, Franklin Cudjoe questioned the former President’s silence during a period of severe economic mismanagement with the current Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration.
He pointed out that nearly one million Ghanaians were plunged into deeper poverty due to the reckless actions of the economic management team.
Cudjoe criticized the team as being both poorly led and lacking managerial competence.
He wondered why the former President, despite his influence and stature, failed to intervene or speak out against the disastrous policies implemented by this “solid” yet ineffective team.
“Where was Kufuor when his own party of so-called property-owning democrats Machiavellianly disenfranchised thousands of Ghanaians in SALL? Any comforting words.?
“Where was Kufuor when many young men and women were thrown in jail for daring to question why the government has aided the poisoning of our rivers due to uncontrolled illegal mining?”
Franklin Cudjoe
He urged the former President to compare Ghana’s economy in 2016 to its current state under Nana Addo and Bawumia.
In 2016, $1 was 4 cedis, a bag of cement cost 24 cedis, and the national debt was 120 billion cedis.
According to Cudjoe, by 2024, $1 had risen to 17 cedis, cement costs 105 cedis, and debt has skyrocketed to 763 billion cedis.
Citing the World Bank, he noted that poverty rates are expected to rise until 2026, peaking at 31.5% in 2025, with LMIC poverty rates potentially hitting 55.1%.
Cudjoe noted that this is due to slow growth in agriculture and services, alongside rising prices that outpace income for the poorest.
He asked why such economic decline continues unchecked. “Perhaps President Kufuor needs to be reminded that his successor president, Nana Addo and his “solid” economic management team headed by Bawumia junketed our economy”.
Cudjoe emphasized that this government burdened Ghanaians with massive debt and oversaw severe environmental destruction through illegal mining. “Maybe President Kufuor should encourage all to choose wisely and peacefully”.
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