The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South Hon. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah in assessing President Mahama’s State of the Nation Address justified the essence of borrowing by the erstwhile NPP government.
He first acknowledged the significance of the President’s address, emphasizing its constitutional importance.
“We need to commend the President for fulfilling a constitutional mandate. The rule of law is at play. And so, we need to commend him. As you know, what he did yesterday [Thursday] is symbolic in terms of the constitutional requirement. It’s a time when a new president comes to tell us what he has taken over from the previous government. And so, it is quite symbolic in that regard.”
Hon. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah MP for Manhyia South
However, Baffour Awuah noted that while the act of presenting the state of the nation is standard, the content of the address did not surprise him.
The Manhyia South MP pointed out that past transitions have often been marked by complaints about the state of the economy.
“I was not surprised because President Mahama, even when he took over from himself in the year 2013, lamented. In the year 2013, the President had taken over from Professor Mills following his demise in the year 2012. He was sworn in as President. And then when he won the elections, he took over from himself. And even at the time, when he appeared before Parliament to deliver his state of the nation, he was lamenting.”
Hon. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah MP for Manhyia South
Hon. Baffour Awuah further emphasized that this pattern of lamentation is expected when a leader transitions into office, particularly when taking over from a different government.
Debt Accumulation: A Continuous National Phenomenon
Addressing the issue of debt, the Hon. Baffour Awuah made it clear that Ghana has consistently faced economic challenges, with successive governments inheriting debt from their predecessors.
He traced the trend back to previous administrations, including that of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who had to opt for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative to manage Ghana’s financial situation.
While acknowledging the burden of borrowing, he stressed that it is a common global economic practice, citing examples from powerful economies like the United States.
“Even the big powers have debt. The question however is, what was the money used for?”
“Every president cannot borrow until there is parliamentary approval. When you bring a request for approval for a loan to Parliament, it comes with the objective behind the borrowing. And so, no borrowing has been in a vacuum. It would have been fair to the people of Ghana if the President had said that whatever money was borrowed, whatever debt had been accumulated, was not used for the purpose for which it was accumulated. Or there’s nothing really to show for it.”
Hon. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah MP for Manhyia South
Assessing the President’s Claim of Mismanagement
Responding to the President’s assertion that the previous administration had engaged in “almost deliberate and, in some cases, criminal mismanagement of resources,” Hon. Baffour Awuah argued that such claims must be substantiated with evidence.
Comparing the current accusations to Mahama’s previous lamentations, he pointed out that the President himself had acknowledged the country’s financial difficulties during his tenure.
“When President Mahama took over from himself in the year 2013, this was his first state of the nation’s address. ‘Mr. Speaker, the meat is now down to the bones. And it is time for serious rethinking.’’
“Borrowing is very much part of our economic management. And so, the only fair assessment will be to tell us that the debt you came to meet, there is nothing to show for it. But if there is something to show for it, then it may well seem that it is not really an unjustified borrowing.”
Hon. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah MP for Manhyia South
When asked about the President’s assertion that “not even a single Agenda 111 project is operational,” Hon. Baffour Awuah refrained from making an immediate judgment but indicated his willingness to revisit the topic later. His response suggests that he intends to critically assess the claim before commenting further.
Hon. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah’s perspective is an insightful critique of Ghana’s economic situation. While he acknowledged the challenges, he emphasized the importance of transparency and fairness in evaluating government debt.
His remarks underscore the need for a comprehensive and evidence-based discussion on the country’s financial management.
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