National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has disclosed that it is a fact beyond dispute that Ghana is now bankrupt and the economy has finally collapsed.

According to him, the country is reeling under this economic crisis due to the frivolous spending of government. He indicated that the NDC have always maintained that the manner in which COVID-19 funds were expended by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government spelt doom for the economy.

Speaking at the NDC’s maiden edition of the moment of truth series in Accra on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, on the recent Auditor-General’s report on Covid-19 funds utilization, Mr Gyamfi stated that the individual bondholders and Ghanaians at large now have to pay for the mismanagement incurred by government.

Mr Gyamfi noted that it is therefore within the right of labor, pensioners, trade unions, individual bondholders, banks and other stakeholders to stand firmly as they are doing now, against the brazen attempt by government to foist unfavorable terms of debt exchange programme on them.

“It is a fact beyond dispute that Ghana is now bankrupt and our economy has finally collapsed under the watch of President Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Bawumia. In the face of this unpardonable and despicable raid on the public purse, there can be no justification whatsoever for the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to attempt to indirectly impose a draconian debt exchange programme on the Ghanaian people in order to clean a mess they and their cronies in government created.”
Sammy Gyamfi

The NDC communications officer highlighted that at the very least of opportunity, spokespersons of the government have “consciously and shamelessly” recited the pandemic as the cause of the economic mess the country currently has on its hands.

He explained that what the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has failed to tell Ghanaians is the fact that COVID-19 has brought the “biggest financial windfall that has ever accrued to a sitting government” in the history of Ghana.

“Our dear country would not have been plunged into this economic mess if these resources were prudently and judiciously utilized by our duty bearers. Sadly, after squandering these resources on some very unconscionable ventures, these callous nation-wreckers have turned around not only to blame COVID-19, which fattened their pockets, but are now seeking to expropriate the lifesavings and hard-earned monies of the Ghanaian people in the name of so-called Debt Exchange Programme”
Sammy Gyamfi

COVID-19 expenditure by government

Furthermore, Mr Gyamfi highlighted that the NDC will not be surprised, despite the many damning revelations contained in the Auditor-General’s report, if the “thieving” government, who have proven to be a “monument of waste and corruption”, tries to cover up the scandal as they have often done in the last six years since they took office.

He reckoned that the NDC will not accept any situation where Ghanaians will be further “punished and made to suffer” for the willful mismanagement and destruction of the economy by government.

“We shall not sit aloof and watch the mother serpent of corruption, and his Appearance-Fee-Collection Vice, Alhaji Bawumia, whitewash this audit report and sweep it under the carpet as they have done in time past. Enough is Enough!”
Sammy Gyamfi

Commenting on the special audit report on COVID-19 expenditure released by the Auditor General, Mr Gyamfi stated that Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, does not deserve to be in office if the findings by the Auditor-General on the COVID spending as far as his office is concerned is true.

He accused the Akufo-Addo administration of engaging in thievery and misuse of COVID funds. He indicated that the government was “scared and petrified about calls for audit of COVID funds”.