The Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Selorm Branttie has strongly lashed out at the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), expressing profound regret over his 2016 vote for a government he once believed would transform Ghana.
In a very detailed and candid statement, the renowned policy analyst labelled the government as vindictive, corrupt, and deceitful, accusing it of failing to deliver on its promises and plunging the country into deeper economic and social despair.
Selorm Branttie reflected on his optimism in 2016, voting for a government he believed would prioritize meritocracy, combat corruption, and promote private enterprise to empower Ghana’s middle class and foster economic growth.
He envisioned a future where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) would thrive, creating opportunities for young Ghanaians and reducing government overreach.
However, his optimism turned to disillusionment as the promises of transformation gave way to what he described as rampant cronyism and self-enrichment.
“I voted because I believed that as a centre-right-leaning party, there would be less bloating of government and a focus on private enterprise growth without public servants dipping their hands into the government purse. I voted to be a citizen and not a spectator. Oh, Lord! I couldn’t have been more deceived”.
Selorm Branttie, Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education
Selorm Branttie accused the NPP administration of betraying its mandate by diverting opportunities to friends, cronies, and family members. He alleged that the government deliberately undermined private businesses to monopolize economic gains for its inner circle.
“They actively plotted to kill people’s businesses and take the spoils for themselves. They actively sabotaged others to ensure that they were the only game in town,” he charged, painting a picture of a government that prioritizes political expediency over national development.
The Erosion of the Middle Class and National Pride
In his statement, Selorm Branttie expressed bitterness over the shrinking of Ghana’s middle class, attributing the decline to exorbitant taxes, government waste, and policies that have stifled economic growth.
He criticized the administration for reducing citizens to a state of dependency, while the elite live in luxury at the expense of public funds.
“They have been extremely tone-deaf, laughing at our anguish because they are far removed from the mess due to their largesse. They have called us professional lamentators and Jeremiahs. When you sit on the ivory tower, everyone is a grovelling peasant.
“They have successfully changed Ghana into a peasant class and an elite class. They have elevated local illegal miners into political titans shamelessly running around everywhere. They have imprisoned people who cared about our environment with a judiciary that is nothing but a coven of minions”.
Selorm Branttie, Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education
Stop Deceiving Us with Free Thing
Selorm Branttie also took on the New Patriotic Party government’s much-touted Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, dismissing it as a superficial solution that does little to address the systemic issues plaguing the country.
“You can’t tell me that Free SHS will solve all my problems. I don’t need free stuff. I am not a parasite,” he wrote, emphasizing his desire for a system that fosters wealth creation and ambition, rather than dependence on handouts.
He underscored that social interventions should stem from abundance, not from what he described as “artificial poverty.”
“They have done their very best to destroy any aspect of this country that we could be proud of for their selfish means. So if they label me bitter, they are very right.
“I am very bitter that I have wasted the last 8 years hoping… That my peak adult days are waning and yet I still do not see a country worth sacrificing for, and that’s very painful”.
Selorm Branttie, Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education
In a stinging conclusion, Selorm Branttie declared his bitterness, stating that he had wasted eight years of hope under the NPP government.
He called for an end to what he described as “foolishness” and pledged to celebrate the party’s potential electoral defeat in the upcoming general elections.
“May NPP not win. I will pop champagne on Sunday!” he declared, signalling a dramatic departure from his previous support for the party.
